Ex-Red Horse Manager Says She Was Sexually Harassed At Work, Fired For Reporting It

RUMSON, NJ — A former general manager of the Red Horse by David Burke said she was fired after reporting repeated sexual harassment by supervisors at the restaurant, according to a lawsuit.

Michelle Provost alleges she experienced Red Horse chefs repeatedly harassing her over the eight months she worked there, including an instance where one dragged her into a bathroom and tried to kiss her, and an incident where an investor offered to pay her for a sex act, the lawsuit says.

When she reported these incidents, she was fired, the lawsuit says.

In an interview with the Asbury Park Press, Burke told reporters that he hadn’t seen the lawsuit and couldn’t comment on it, though he emphasized that he personally was not accused of sexual harassment and didn’t tolerate that kind of behavior. Patch has reached out to Burke for comment.

“This case concerns the most fundamental right of any female employee — the right to a workplace free of sexual harassment,” the lawsuit says. “Now, more than ever, women should be empowered and encouraged to bring valid claims of sexual harassment to light. At a minimum, women who report sexual harassment should not be victim-blamed, gaslighted, or forced out of their job.”

Provost was hired in March as an assistant general manager at the Red Horse and was quickly promoted to general manager in late May, according to the lawsuit.

But she alleges that from the start she saw that the Red Horse “maintained an environment utterly beset with sexual harassment and gender discrimination,” the lawsuit says.

In May, a sous chef (who was one of her supervisors) named Rafael “consistently begged” her to socialize with him outside the workplace, and even tried to kiss her, the lawsuit said. It escalated to him dragging her into a bathroom. Provost gripped the door to try to stop him but Rafael refused to release her until he heard someone walk into the building, the lawsuit said.

In separate instances, Provost said an executive chef of the Red Horse named Leo made inappropriate comments toward her.

On one occasion, he commented on her breast size in front of a co-worker and underage food runner. On another, when Provost told a customer of the Red Horse “‘No’ is not in my vocabulary when it comes to my guest,” Leo turned to other chefs in the kitchen, winked and said, “Oh, I’ll remember that for later.”

Alongside incidents with restaurant staff, Provost also said she faced harassment from investors.

In early summer 2024, Provost said Burke hosted an investor and associate business dinner at the Red Horse’s bar area, where investors insisted she order an alcoholic drink with them. Though she declined multiple times, the lawsuit said the investors “would not relent” and continually urged her to drink with them.

Eventually, Provost said she ordered a drink to appease the investors, though she immediately poured it down the drain once the investors were out of sight. After Burke left the event, some investors and associates remained at the bar and continued to order drinks.

While Provost spoke with the bartender, she said one investor leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before propositioning her and another female employee to perform a sexual act in exchange for money.

When Provost informed Burke of this incident the following day, she said Burke apologized and told her the investors would not return, but weeks later, the same investors were back dining at the restaurant.

In late August, Provost said she was injured by a Red Horse customer when she tried to break up a fight where one guest tried to stab another guest. As she interfered to stop the altercation, the lawsuit said she was punched in the rib cage.

Read: Man, 75, Threatened Patron, Punched Manager At Rumson Eatery: Police

When Provost informed Burke of this incident, the lawsuit said he “failed to rectify, assist, or offer worker’s compensation” for Provost’s injuries. Instead, Provost said Burke made a public statement that she “handl[ed] the situation well.”

Provost alleges her concerns were downplayed when she reported incidents of sexual harassment to Red Horse supervisors as well, the lawsuit says.

After she was dragged into the bathroom, Provost said she informed Executive Chef Charmello of the incident, but Charmello advised her to speak with Rafael about the situation before escalating it any further.

Though Rafael was later transferred to another David Burke restaurant, the lawsuit alleges he faced no disciplinary or remedial action for his behavior.

When she reported comments made by Leo to the head of human resources for the restaurant, she said her concerns were “brushed aside” and she was instructed to tell Burke what happened.

Provost said she feared he would fire her and wasn’t comfortable bringing her concerns to Burke and instead told Corporate Chef Ubert. Though Ubert offered to tell Burke what happened on her behalf, Provost said she declined because she “legitimately feared for her job security.”

In late September, the situation came to a head when Provost became ill with the flu. Though she reached out to two different managers in hopes they could cover her, the lawsuit said no one would assist her.

As her symptoms continued to worsen, Provost said she reached out to Burke to let him know she needed to take a sick day. Provost alleges that Burke berated her in front of customers and screamed “This is not college, you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s a job!”

After going to the downstairs area of the restaurant, Provost said Burke followed her and continually shouted at her. At one point, she said Burke told her she should take “a few days off…or never come back!”

The following day, Provost took three days of pre-approved sick time to recover from the flu. When Provost returned to work, however, she said Burke insisted she take another two days off.

A couple of days later, Provost said Burke scheduled a Google Meets meeting with her, where he then fired her. In the meeting, Burke claimed Provost was terminated because she was “too inexperienced for the caliber of the restaurant,” the lawsuit said.

When Provost told Burke that her alleged “inexperience” was a pretext for the restaurant’s motive to fire her due to her sexual harassment concerns, she said Burke “became enraged” and said it was Provost’s fault for his “losing a couple good chefs.”

Since then, Provost said she has continued to suffer physically, emotionally and financially from the stress of losing her job. Her termination has resulted in lost income and benefits, the lawsuit said, as well as conditions such as stress, anxiety and panic attacks.