More than three years after he was accused of groping a woman, Four Seasons managing partner Julian Niccolini has been fired.
Niccolini was fired Monday morning for unspecified reasons, the New York Post reported. One source told the Post that he failed to adhere to an agreement to get counseling for his past behavior. His Four Seasons partner Alex von Bidder apparently pushed for his firing.
Niccolini was arrested in 2015 on charges that he groped a young woman during a private party at the restaurant, leaving her with scratches and bruises. The felony sexual assault charge was ultimately reduced to a third-degree misdemeanor assault charge, meaning Niccolini avoided jail time.
Other giants in the restaurant world have been called out for past behavior with the advent of the #MeToo movement. Last year, chef Mario Batali agreed to step down from his restaurants following allegations of sexual harassment. The owner of the Spotted Pig, Ken Friedman, was accused last year of routinely groping female employees and demanding nude photos from them.
The Four Seasons opened in August at 280 Park Avenue after RFR Holdings’ Aby Rosen kicked von Bidder and Niccolini out of the Seagram Building.
[NYP] — Kathryn Brenzel