James Corden ‘so zen’ after claims he abused Balthazar restaurant staff in New York

James Corden has said he hasn’t “done anything wrong, on any level” and is “so zen” after being temporarily banned from a New York restaurant earlier this week.

The talk show host has spoken publicly for the first time after being accused of being “extremely nasty” to staff at Balthazar restaurant during two visits.

The 44-year-old was banned by restaurateur Keith McNally, owner of the luxury restaurant, who called him a “tiny cretin of a man” on Instagram.

The post, which has received more than 43,000 votes, detailed two occasions where McNally claimed Corden was “the most abusive customer” his business had served in 25 years.

In the first instance Hillingdon-born Corden demanded all his drinks paid for after he spotted a hair in his food.

Despite staff being said to have been “very apologetic” Corden allegedly said: “Get us another round of drinks this second, and also take care of our all drinks so far”.

On another visit he apparently yelled at a server: “You can’t do your job! Maybe I should go into the kitchen and cook the omelette myself!” after finding a “little bit of egg white” in his wife’s egg yolk omelette.

McNally revoked the ban shortly afterwards saying that The Late Late Show host had called him personally to apologise for the behaviour.

Corden, who is planning on leaving the CBS show in 2023, stated that he may address the “silly” claims on air despite insisting he doesn’t feel he done anything wrong.

In a New York Times interview to promote his Amazon Prime mini-series called ‘Mammals’ Corden said: “I haven’t done anything wrong, on any level.”

He added: “I was there. I get it. I feel so Zen about the whole thing. Because I think it’s so silly.”

Corden has been accused of arrogant behaviour in the past with Gavin and Stacey co-star Rob Brydon stating that he had to speak to Corden over lunch after having concerns about his behaviour towards friends and colleagues.

In one famous incident Corden was involved in an awkward on-stage exchange with Star Trek-actor Patrick Stewart whilst hosting the 2010 Glamour Women of the Year award.

Both stars exchanged unpleasantries but the pair seem to be on good terms nowadays as Stewart has appeared on The Late Late Show since.

Corden was also criticised for using his acceptance speech for the Television Programme of the Year at the 2008 TV Baftas to complain that the series hadn’t also been nominated for Best Sitcom.