Patti Smith Faces Backlash for Allegedly Rude Behavior in NYC Restaurant

NEW YORK — Keith McNally, a prominent restaurateur in New York City, has detailed an alarming encounter with singer Patti Smith in an excerpt of his forthcoming memoir, “I Regret Almost Everything: A Memoir.” McNally claims that during the 1970s, while managing One Fifth restaurant, Smith was “incredibly rude” to a server, causing the employee to burst into tears.

McNally, who owns well-known establishments including Balthazar, Pastis, and Minetta Tavern, recalled that Smith and her then-boyfriend, renowned photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, frequently dined at the now-closed Italian eatery. “Smith and Mapplethorpe could be very difficult to wait on,” McNally wrote. “It’s impossible for me to listen to a Patti Smith song today without remembering her reducing a waitress to tears because she forgot to put bread on the table.”

He contrasted Smith’s behavior with Mapplethorpe’s, noting that the acclaimed photographer “never tried to belittle” the waitstaff. McNally’s claims have sparked widespread reactions on social media, highlighting a mix of disappointment and defense regarding Smith’s behavior.

In response to McNally’s comments, several users shared their own negative experiences with the singer. “He’s not lying about Patti Smith. I witnessed her rudeness years ago at working a banquet,” one commenter stated on New York Magazine‘s Instagram post promoting the article. Another expressed heartbreak over the revelation, stating, “The Patti Smith is rude to servers comment just broke my heart!”

However, defensively inclined fans rushed to Smith’s side, recalling more positive interactions. “I know people who have spent time with her in the past few years and she was sweet as could be… I guess she’s mellowed… or that waiter was very sensitive,” one user noted.

McNally’s forthcoming memoir, which includes this incident and other aspects of his storied career in the restaurant industry, is set to be released on May 6. The restaurateur previously made headlines in 2022 for banning British comedian James Corden from Balthazar after accusing him of abusive behavior towards staff.

Patti Smith, 78, is widely revered for her contributions to music and poetry. Her treatment of servers, however, has drawn controversy, with fans expressing disappointment at the disparity between her public persona and reported private behavior.