The alleged victim of a spat inside the luxury restaurant of a five-star hotel in the city of Biarritz, which led to the dismissal of an award-winning chef, today denied press reports, saying it was a “joke” between colleagues.

“I deny all the accusations against my former chef, Aurélien Larzo,” wrote on Instagram the kitchen worker who allegedly suffered a “humiliating scalding”, as reported by the local newspaper Sud Ouest. According to the publication, the events unfolded on December 2. For many hours the young employee was tied, naked, to a chair, with an apple in his mouth and a carrot between his buttocks. Chef Larzo and his colleagues were present.

“A carrot between the buttocks? Truth; Truth; Attack; This is all lies,” the alleged victim continued, claiming it was “a joke between friends.”

The dismissed chef, for his part, also maintains that “the reported events do not represent the truth” and declares that he is “devastated” by the “attacks on his honor and reputation”.

“I condemn any form of mistreatment, abuse or humiliation (…) and I will never engage in such behavior,” he added.

The management of the Hyatt group, which owns the hotel, told AFP that it had been informed “of a disturbing incident inside the hotel and of the videos that were circulated” on social networking sites. “An investigation was conducted and appropriate decisions were taken,” he added.

The 31-year-old chef, who was awarded a Michelin star last year, was fired on December 21. The victim resigned of his own accord and left to work in a Paris hotel, he said. Although no charges have been filed, the Bayonne City Prosecutor’s Office has opened a preliminary investigation into the sexual assault and battery charges.