James Corden has finally admitted that he was ‘ungracious’ and ‘wrong’ to berate a waiter at one of New York City’s most famous restaurants because they got his wife’s omelet order wrong – a move that saw him banned from the eatery for a period.
Corden, 44, returned to The Late Late Show last night and told viewers that he was ‘rude’ to the server after his wife Julia Carey, 46, found a bit of egg white in her egg yolk omelet at the restaurant Balthazar.
The British comedian and talk-show host said he was ‘ungracious’ to the waiter when he snapped at him and made a snide remark that he’d cook the egg yolk omelet himself.
Corden’s rude behavior saw Balthazar owner Keith McNally ban Corden from the restaurant – only for him to lift the ban when the comedian called him to apologize.
Days later, Corden appeared to U-turn on his apology after he snapped at a New York Times reporter who had asked him about the omelet incident, saying he had done ‘nothing wrong’.
But Corden last night admitted he had made a ‘mistake’ by making the ‘rude and unnecessary comment’ to the server.
He said his comments had been ‘in the heat of the moment’ but vowed he would ‘apologize in person’ to the staff at Balthazar.
Speaking on his show last night, Corden finally said: ‘Last week, there were stories about me being banned from a restaurant. And at the time I considered, you know, tweeting about it or Instagramming about it.’
He added that he likes to adopt a ‘British attitude’ about things: ‘Keep calm and carry on’ and ‘Never complain, never explain.’
Corden, looking at his parents Malcolm and Margaret who were in the audience, added: ‘As my dad pointed out to me on Saturday — he said, ‘Son, well, you did complain, so you might need to explain.’ Look, when you make a mistake, you’ve gotta take responsibility. So I thought I would, if it’s okay, share with you what happened.’
James Corden admitted that he was ‘ungracious’ to a Balthazar waiter when he made a snide remark he’d cook the egg yolk omelet himself – which got him banned from the establishment
Corden, looking at his parents Malcolm and Margaret who were in the audience, added: ‘As my dad pointed out to me on Saturday — he said, ‘Son, well, you did complain, so you might need to explain.’ Look, when you make a mistake, you’ve gotta take responsibility. So I thought I would, if it’s okay, share with you what happened’
Corden says he believes the media has simply over-egged the story. James Corden and Julia Carey seen having lunch at Scott’s restaurant in Mayfair on June 27, 2018 in London, England
Corden said his wife Julia Carey was given food ‘she was allergic to’ even after explaining her food allergies.
He explained: ‘In the heat of the moment, I made a sarcastic rude comment about cooking it myself. It is a comment I deeply regret. I understand the difficulties of being a server. I worked shifts at restaurants for years.
‘I have such respect, and I value anyone that does such a job. And the team at that restaurant are so great. That’s why I love it there.’
He added that when the staff brought out champagne ‘as an apology,’ he thought the matter was resolved.
Corden continued: ‘Because I didn’t shout or scream, I didn’t get up out of my seat, I didn’t call anyone names or use derogatory language, I’ve been walking around thinking that I haven’t done anything wrong.
‘But the truth is, I made a rude comment, and it was wrong. It was an unnecessary comment. It was ungracious to the server.’
Corden and his wife Julia Carey are accused of sending back an egg yolk omelet because it had a ‘little bit of egg white’ in it while dining at the plush restaurant
Corden with his parents Malcolm and Margaret in New York City in 2012
The saga began last Monday when Keith McNally, 71, who has a colorful history of booting out celebrities from his exclusive restaurants, claimed Corden behaved badly at his former restaurant, Cafe Luxembourg, on several occasions and left one server ‘shaken.’
McNally then posted two separate examples of Corden’s ‘extremely nasty’ behavior at Balthazar, the French brasserie, where he said he had yelled at the server.
Corden said that after seeing Mr McNally’s post he had ‘immediately’ contacted him to ‘tell him how upset I was’.
‘(I told him) how upset I was that anybody was hurt by anything that I had done and anything that I had said and we had a good talk,’ he said.
‘He appreciated the call. I was happy that we got to clear the air. And I felt like we dealt with it privately … but by this point, the story was out there and more people were upset.’
After showing a series of scathing tweets to his audience, he continued: ‘I get it. I totally understand. I understand everybody getting upset and I accept everybody’s opinion.
‘I also hate, as I said to the owner that day, that I’ve ever upset anybody ever.
‘It was never my intention. It just wasn’t. I love that restaurant. I love the staff there.
‘I hope I’m allowed in again one day so when I’m back in New York I can go there and apologise in person, which is something I will absolutely do.’
McNally lifted his ban after receiving Corden’s apology, also announcing the news on social media.
McNally had initially posted on Instagram saying that he had ’86’d’ – banned – the star and claimed Corden found a hair in his main course when dining at Balthazar in June, before demanding free drinks for the mistake.
The saga began last Monday when Keith McNally, 71, (pictured) who has a colorful history of booting out celebrities from his exclusive restaurants, claimed Corden behaved badly at his former restaurant, Cafe Luxembourg, on several occasions and left one server ‘shaken’
Restaurateur Keith McNally, 71, banned the Late Late Show host from his restaurants because of his ‘extremely nasty’ treatment of staff – only to rescind the ban hours later
He said: ‘After eating his main course, Corden showed the hair to Balthazar manager G. who was very apologetic.
‘Corden was extremely nasty to G, and said: ‘Get us another round of drinks this second. And also take care of all of our drinks so far. This way I write any nasty reviews in yelp or anything like that.”
In a second incident, McNally claims that Corden was dining with his wife, Julia Carey, at the eatery on October 9 for brunch.
He says that Corden asked for a table outside, and wife Carey ordered an egg yolk omelet with a salad.
The couple complained to the server that there was ‘a little bit of egg white mixed with the egg yolk’ and sent the dish back.
McNally added: ‘The kitchen remade the dish but unfortunately sent it with home fries instead of salad.
‘That’s when James Corden began yelling like crazy to the server: ‘You can’t do your job! You can’t do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelet myself!’
The popular French eatery Balthazar, in New York’s SoHo district, is pictured on Monday
Balthazar’s owner, Keith McNally, regularly shares updates from his staff – including, on Monday, excoriating James Corden for his behavior
The restaurant, pictured on Monday, is a popular spot for celebrities, tourists and locals alike
‘M.K (server) was very apologetic and brought G. (floor manager) over to the table.
‘He returned the dish, and after that, everything was fine. He gave them promo Champagne glasses to smooth things out.
‘G. said that Corden was pleasant to him but nasty to the server. M.K. was very shaken, but professional that she is, continued to finish her shift.’
Corden will not stay on at The Late Late Show after his current contract ends next year – a decision that was made earlier this year, long before the Balthazar saga.
Corden is well known for his provocative and at times strange behavior.
In 2017, as the Harvey Weinstein scandal was just being published, Corden joked and made fun of the rapist’s victims.
‘It has been weird this week watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water,’ he told a gala in New York City.
‘Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, it’s weird watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.’
He later apologized, tweeting: ‘To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter. I was not trying to make light of Harvey’s inexcusable behavior, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims. I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention.’
At the end of 2019, he ridiculed the technical team behind the film Cats, in which he starred.
‘I haven’t seen it, I’ve heard it’s terrible,’ he told a British radio show, and then told the Oscars audience while presenting an award: ‘As cast members of the motion picture Cats, nobody more than us understands the importance of good visual effects.’
In September 2021, while promoting his film Cinderella, he dressed as a mouse and danced in a road, thrusting his groin at bemused drivers.
Corden was accompanied by Camila Cabello, who plays the lead role, and Billy Porter, as a character called Fab G.
At one point Corden seemed to take a drag on what looked like a spliff, before dancing some more.
In July this year, he was knocked off his bicycle in London by a fellow cyclist, who swerved in front of him on busy Regent’s Street, nearly pushing Corden into a car.
The comedian was furious, and loudly berated the young bike ride who cut him up.
Balthazar owner Keith McNally made a raunchy Instagram post detailing how a couple used the men’s room at the swanky NYC restaurant as their private sexual oasis over Fourth of July
McNally claims a couple had sex in the bathroom before scurrying off, leaving behind a wedding ring. The ring has since been placed in lost and found
McNally last Monday banned Corden from his restaurant but then later reversed it after saying he had spoken to the actor on the phone.
He had told how Corden had been rude to his staff several times – berating them over a hair in his food and demanding free drinks during the summer.
Meanwhile on October 9 he furiously reprimanded the waiters over an omelet he was unhappy with.
Four hours after announcing the ban to his 87,000 Instagram followers, McNally promptly reversed it, saying he had received a call from Corden apologizing.
The fiery restaurateur posted a new photo on Tuesday night captioned: ‘Feeling strange about the James Corden thing. On the one hand, he was definitely abusive to my staff, on the other hand, I feel really sorry for him right now.
‘Like most cowards I want it both ways.’ He concluded: ‘F*** it, I’m going to get drunk.’
Meanwhile, Corden is planning to sell his $9.7 million LA home after he was blasted for abusing the restaurant staff.
Realtor Alicia Drake was spotted at the comedian’s Brentwood mansion last Thursday, along with Million Dollar Listing LA star James Harris – two days after restaurateur Keith McNally called the British performer out.
Drake later confirmed to DailyMail.com that the property is indeed up for sale.
‘It won’t be listed – it’s a private sale,’ she said.
DailyMail.com’s exclusive photos show Harris, the dapper celebrity realtor, 38, leaving the $9.7m property, accompanied by Drake who wore a black minidress, and an unidentified woman.
Drake is ‘one of the Westside L.A.’s top-tier brokers,’ according to her bio on The Agency, which also highlights her experience handling ‘unique and challenging situations, with discretion.’
‘She is committed to delivering the highest level of ethics, integrity, personal service, professional representation and technical expertise, ensuring that every client is thrilled with the outcome and comfortable throughout the entire process.’
Million Dollar Listing LA star James Harris and realtor Alicia Drake (center), and another unidentified woman were seen exiting James Corden’s Brentwood home Thursday for a purported ‘social’ visit
Harris, 38, for his part, told DailyMail.com that he was at the home for a social visit and explained that his wife Valeria is close friends with Corden’s producer wife Julia, 46.
He also said he was not there to list or appraise the house, with a second source telling DailyMail.com: ‘There really is nothing in it. It was just a social thing.’
Friends of Corden, 44, however, have previously spoken of his wish to return to his native Britain ‘to be closer to family’ while Ben Turner, the co-founder of his production company Fulwell 73, told Variety he is ‘really excited to get James back in the UK’ in an interview in July.
Corden is due to finish filming his final series of the Late Late Show in the spring, with Turner telling the magazine: ‘[Corden] has just got so many strings to his bow, and ‘Late’ is a big commitment that’s taken up so much of his time.
‘We’re just really excited about having him back in the UK., and all the stuff that that entails, but it is a big moment for us.’
Corden purchased his $9.7m five-bedroom Brentwood home in 2017 after moving to the property from a rented mansion in Pacific Palisades.
The lavish property sprawls across 8,600sqft and comes complete with seven bathrooms, a wood-paneled library, a media room and a private gym.
The Cordens have lived in their $10 million Los Angeles home for less than five years. The family moved in December 2017 after an extensive renovation period
James Corden and wife Julia officially moved into this Brentwood home in December 2017 after purchasing the property for $9.7 million
Harris, who is also British, has plenty of experience in selling high value properties. In 2019, he and David Parnes handled the sale of Petra Ecclestone’s former home – dubbed The Manor – for $120m.
The vast property, which was built by producer Aaron Spelling, became the sixth most expensive home ever sold in LA County when the deal went through.
Harris and Parnes also dealt with the sale of a huge apartment that once belonged to Cher the same year and have racked up over $3bn in property sales since 2017.
Corden’s home is relatively small by Harris and Parnes’ standards but the Brentwood property is similar to other homes sold by the British realtors.