In a surprising turn of events, restauranteur Keith McNally recently made headlines when a video surfaced online of a rat running around patrons’ feet at his famed Soho eatery Balthazar. The clip was posted on Instagram by NYC socialite Michelle Manning Barish, who captioned the pic with a scathing remark about the establishment. McNally claimed that the rodent was actually a set-up orchestrated by a suspicious individual who released white domesticated mice in the restaurant.
The mysterious incident at Balthazar involved a brown rodent running around the restaurant as waiters tried to capture it. Diners were startled and entertained by the commotion, as seen in the video. Despite McNally’s explanation of the situation, the authenticity of the video and the circumstances surrounding it remain questionable. Barish, who was involved in capturing the incident on camera, has not provided any further comments on the matter.
Following McNally’s controversial post criticizing Jeff Bezos’ fiancée Lauren Sanchez, many individuals rushed to her defense online. Celebrities like Chrissy Teigen and Ana Navarro, as well as singer Jewel and fashion designer Stacey Bendet, expressed support for Sanchez. Some social media users perceived the rat incident at Balthazar as karma for McNally’s behavior, further escalating the online backlash against him.
It is unclear when the rodent video was shot, but sources suggest it occurred on Thursday night. Barish, known for her past relationships and involvement in high-profile scandals, has not publicly addressed the incident. Meanwhile, Sanchez responded to McNally’s post on social media with quotes advocating for kindness and positivity. McNally, who has a history of making controversial statements on social media, previously faced backlash for comments about an individual’s outfit in Soho.
McNally’s history of provocative statements includes defending controversial figures like Woody Allen and Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as making inflammatory remarks about terrorist attacks in Israel. His behavior has often sparked outrage and led to public disputes with customers and celebrities. Despite facing criticism for his actions, McNally continues to be a prominent figure in the restaurant industry, known for his iconic establishments like Balthazar.
As the rat scandal at Balthazar unfolds, McNally’s reputation as a restauranteur is called into question. The bizarre incident, combined with his recent social media controversies, has sparked debates about accountability, ethics, and public behavior. It remains to be seen how McNally will navigate the fallout from the rat incident and whether it will impact his business and personal relationships in the future.
