René Redzepi, the celebrity chef behind Copenhagen's internationally acclaimed restaurant Noma, has resigned from his position following mounting allegations of staff abuse and workplace mistreatment.

Redzepi announced his departure on Instagram Thursday, writing that he takes responsibility for his actions and acknowledging that apologies alone are insufficient. The resignation comes after years of criticism regarding his treatment of staff and the restaurant's practice of using unpaid interns at the high-priced establishment.

The three Michelin-starred Noma gained worldwide recognition for pioneering "New Nordic" cuisine and was ranked first on the World's 50 Best Restaurants List five times. However, recent reports in The New York Times detailed former employees' accounts of abuse, intensifying scrutiny that had built up over several years.

The controversy reached a crescendo as Redzepi prepared to open a Noma pop-up restaurant in Los Angeles, where meals cost $1,500 per person. Sponsors withdrew funding for the Southern California venture, which opened Wednesday to a small group of protesters despite the setbacks.

In his resignation statement, Redzepi said Noma had "taken big steps to transform the culture over many years" and that he had worked to become a better leader. He acknowledged that these changes "do not repair the past."

Redzepi was knighted in 2016 to Denmark's Order of Dannebrog by then-Queen Margrethe II. Neither Noma, Redzepi, nor the Danish royal family's press department immediately responded to requests for comment.