A second hostess is suing Robert DeNiro’s Nobu Malibu and a former manager for sexual assault, sexual harassment and discrimination.
The accuser, identified only as Jayne Doe 2, said a manager named Marcus rubbed his penis against her buttocks and whispered in her ear.
“I heard you liked having your hair pulled,” Marcus said as he pulled her hair, according to the complaint. “You heard it wrong,” said the plaintiff, who later reported the incident.
The lawsuit came less than a week after shocking allegations emerged that a hostess was forced to “wear small clothes and reject unwanted sexual advances from managers and customers.”
Upscale sushi restaurant Nobu Malibu is being sued by a hostess who claims the eatery perpetuates a culture of sexual harassment for some staff members
Nobu was founded in 1994 by chef Nobu Matsuhisa (left) together with actor Robert De Niro (center) and film producer Meir Teper (left)
Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Jen Garcia Allen at Nobu in 2015
Brian Bowen Smith and Cindy Crawford at Nobu in 2022
The plaintiff alleged that sexual harassment is “rampant in the Nobu restaurant workplace.”
She felt compelled to come forward and speak out after reading the first case, her attorney Michelle Iarusso said.
‘At first she was afraid to come forward. However, she did not want Jane Doe 1 to be alone because she knew the allegations were true and she was also being harassed,” Iarusso said. LA times.
The restaurant, partially owned by acclaimed actor De Niro, is a well-known celebrity hotspot in the Los Angeles area.
The first hostess known as Jayne Doe, through her attorney — also claimed she was repeatedly touched by Marcus “while she was at work.”
Both plaintiffs are seeking at least $500,000 in damages plus attorney fees.
Jayne Doe 2 never heard from regulators, who promised to investigate, about the updates, only to discover that Marcus was “quietly terminated,” according to the complaint.
After Marcus left Nobu in early 2022, he continued to dine at the restaurant as a customer, which allegedly led to a hostess’ “mental breakdown.”
Kevin Hart and Ne-Yo attend a party at Nobu Malibu in July 2022
Nobu is an upscale, exclusive sushi restaurant located along the Pacific Coast Highway
Chef Matsuhisa (pictured) at Nobu’s Malibu location
The lawsuit also alleges that the plaintiff was sexually harassed by a customer when she bent over to grab plates for him. The customer licked his lips, leered at her and complimented her legs.
Jayne Doe 2’s female supervisor only told her that she didn’t care and didn’t have time for the complaints, according to the lawsuit.
“He was allowed to return to the restaurant as a customer, forcing hostesses who had complained about his behavior to work for fear of encountering him,” wrote Bernard Alexander, attorney for the first plaintiff.
In his release, Alexander also called out the Hollywood stars who frequent and support the restaurant.
“It is a frustrating irony that Nobu is catering to a Hollywood client list that routinely singles out and cancels contemporaries who exhibit the same kind of misogynistic and exploitative behavior that Nobu’s managers seem to encourage,” Alexander wrote.
He added that Jane Doe and other female employees’ access to the “captains of the entertainment industry” felt forced to remain silent for the sake of their jobs.
DailyMail.com contacted Nobu officials, who did not respond to this report in time.
Nobu was founded in 1994 by chef Nobu Matsuhisa together with Robert De Niro and film producer Meir Teper.
As of 2023, there are more than 50 Nobu restaurants around the world.