The recent events at the famous Soho eatery, Balthazar, have left patrons scratching their heads. A video surfaced online showing a rat scurrying around the feet of diners at the bar, sparking outrage and disgust. Socialite Michelle Manning Barish posted the clip on Instagram, likening the scene to something out of the movie “Ratatouille.”
However, restauranteur Keith McNally, the owner of Balthazar, was quick to dismiss the incident as a set-up. In an exclusive statement to Page Six, McNally claimed that a man planted five white mice in an upturned bag at the bar, leading to the chaos captured in the video. He alleged that the man fled the scene before the mice were caught by a bartender.
Adding to the mystery, the rodent caught on camera in Barish’s video was not white, contradicting McNally’s version of events. The footage showed a brown rat darting around the restaurant while waitstaff in white uniforms scrambled to capture it. Attempts to reach out to Barish for clarification have so far been unsuccessful.
The timing of the rodent incident has raised eyebrows, coming on the heels of McNally’s controversial comments about Jeff Bezos’ fiancee, Lauren Sanchez. Following McNally’s social media post criticizing Sanchez, a number of high-profile women, including Chrissy Teigen and Ana Navarro, came to her defense. The backlash against McNally seems to be mounting, with accusations of hypocrisy and insensitivity.
This is not the first time McNally has found himself embroiled in controversy. From inflammatory remarks about customers to outspoken opinions on public figures, he has a reputation for stirring the pot. Whether it’s defending controversial figures like Woody Allen or making insensitive comments about terror attacks, McNally is no stranger to sparking outrage.
The events at Balthazar have raised questions about integrity, motives, and accountability. Was the rodent incident a genuine health hazard or a calculated hoax? And what role did personal vendettas and public image play in the unfolding drama? Only time will tell if the truth behind the rat’s tale at Balthazar will ever come to light.