James Corden Got Called Out By Balthazar Owner Keith McNally For Lying Again — Like, This Feud Will Never Die

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Welcome to what could possibly be THE last post about James Corden being awful to waitstaff!

James with his hands in his jacket pockets as he's photographed at an event
Dave J Hogan / Dave J Hogan / Getty Images

For what feels like months now, we've been going back and forth with James and high profile restauranter Keith McNally.

Let's do a quick recap, and I'll try to keep this brief.

James smiling awkwardly at a red carpet
Allen Berezovsky / Getty Images

Keith McNally called James out two weeks ago for being the "most abusive customer to my Balthazar servers since the restaurant opened 25 years ago."

"James Corden is a hugely gifted comedian, but a tiny cretin of a man," he said.

  Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images
Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

Then Keith said that James called him and apologized.

"James Corden just called me and apologized profusely. Having fucked up myself more than most people, I strongly believe in second chances. So if James Corden lets me host his Late Late Show for 9 months, I’ll immediately rescind his ban from Balthazar. No, of course not."

Close-up of James
Vera Anderson / WireImage / Getty Images

Then, in an interview with the New York Times, James said, “I haven’t done anything wrong, on any level."

  Bennett Raglin / Getty Images for The New Yorker
Bennett Raglin / Getty Images for The New Yorker

"I feel so Zen about the whole thing. Because I think it’s so silly. I just think it’s beneath all of us. It’s beneath you. It’s certainly beneath your publication."

  Beresford Hodge - Pa Images / PA Images via Getty Images
Beresford Hodge - Pa Images / PA Images via Getty Images

Then Keith posted this response to James' New York Times comments:

"I wish James Corden would live up to his Almighty initials and come clean. If the supremely talented actor wants to retrieve the respect he had from all his fans (all 4 of them) before this incident, then he should at least admit he did wrong. If he goes one step further and apologizes to the 2 servers he insulted, I’ll let him eat for free at Balthazar for the next 10 years."

  Joce / GC Images / Getty Images
Joce / GC Images / Getty Images

Then James did a whole five-minute monologue about the debacle.

He blamed the misunderstanding on his wife's food allergy.

  Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images
Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images

“My wife explained that she has a serious food allergy, so when everybody’s meals came, my wife was given the food that she was allergic to but she hadn’t taken a bite of it or anything, so no worries, we sent it back, all was good.”

  Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images
Michael Tran / AFP via Getty Images

“As her meal came wrong to the table a third time, in the heat of the moment, I made a sarcastic, rude comment about cooking it myself."

James and his wife in a car with their face masks on

“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.”

Mega / GC Images / Getty Images

“It was never my intention, it just wasn’t. And I love that restaurant, I love the staff there. I hope I’m allowed in again one day when I’m back in New York so I can go there and apologize in person, which is something I’ll absolutely do.”

James giving a thumbs up as he and his wife walk the red carpet at an event
Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images

But that's not all!

  Dave J Hogan / Getty Images
Dave J Hogan / Getty Images

James then told the London Times he never did anything wrong at all.

  Jeff Spicer / Getty Images for BFI
Jeff Spicer / Getty Images for BFI

"I mean, it’s so odd. I never screamed at anyone, I didn’t shout, didn’t call anyone a name or swear or use derogatory language … How is it remotely a thing? And that be OK? And now it’s fact, and that’s that. When that person who posted the story wasn’t even there. Just so odd."

  Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images
Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images

These comments pissed Keith off, and he called out James for his "massive lie."

  Bennett Raglin / Getty Images for The New Yorker
Bennett Raglin / Getty Images for The New Yorker

Here's his last word:

"On second viewing, I found his TV 'confessional' contrived and phony. The actor will say anything to save his bacon."

  Dave J Hogan / Getty Images
Dave J Hogan / Getty Images

"In the scheme of things my opinion means nothing, but after Friday's interview and a second look at his fraudulent confessional, I've given up on James Corden. For Good."

  Allen Berezovsky / Getty Images
Allen Berezovsky / Getty Images

"END OF STORY."

  Dave J Hogan / Getty Images
Dave J Hogan / Getty Images

So, guys, I guess that's it! Until next time (James is rude to waitstaff). Bye!

  Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images
Cbs Photo Archive / CBS via Getty Images