Chef Sues Woody Allen for Unjust Firing

Woody Allen's former personal chef, Hermie Fajardo, has filed a lawsuit claiming he was unjustly fired due to his service in the U.S. Army Reserves and his inquiries about pay discrepancies. Fajardo alleges that after being hired in June 2024 at an annual salary of $85,000, he faced hostility upon returning from military training, which led to his termination in July. The lawsuit accuses Allen, his wife Soon-Yi Previn, and home manager Pamela Steigmeyer of violating the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, as well as New York labor laws, causing him emotional distress and financial loss. Fajardo contends that his complaints regarding improper wage withholdings and lack of pay stubs were dismissed, leading to a retaliatory firing. After being terminated, he asserts that criticisms of his cooking, which he denies, were made only after he sought legal counsel. Representatives for Allen have not yet commented on the lawsuit.