UPDATE, Aug. 21: Teamsters Local 25 have released a statement about the Deadline Hollywood story and vehemently disagree with the details offered by the unnamed “Top Chef’’ crew members. The statement reads in full:

Teamsters Local 25 for the last eight years has been a vital part in the success of the film industry in Massachusetts. We continue to support the industry and all the jobs that are created directly and indirectly. The Top Chef situation as it is written is fiction at best. As a union, we have the right to lawfully demonstrate and protest the filming of non-union non-Massachusetts workers. We have fought long and hard to protect our members, their livelihoods and will continue to do so. If the allegations were true Milton Police would have taken appropriate action. Again, Teamsters Local 25 will continue to be vigilant and hold employers accountable when it comes to making sure area standards are upheld, but more importantly to respect the workers that are responsible for their success and prosperity

Original post: Crew members for “Top Chef,’’ Bravo’s culinary reality show spoke with Deadline Hollywood, claiming that Boston’s Teamsters Local 25 went beyond crazy while protesting the production’s June shoot at Milton’s Steel & Rye restaurant. One anonymous crew member claimed that a Teamster threatened host Padma Lakshmi, telling her “We’re gonna bash that pretty face in, you F—ing whore!’’ according to the report.


Deadline did not get a comment from the Teamsters, and all the quotes come from unnamed crew members. Milton Police told Deadline it was quite the scene while the Teamsters rallied outside of the Milton restaurant that hosted the program:

John King, Milton’s Deputy Police Chief, said the Teamsters were “threatening, heckling and harassing.’’ The first officer on the scene, he said, had to call for back-up after the Teamsters “gave the officer trouble.’’ Reading from the police report, he said the Teamsters were “hostile, swearing, and refusing to let people come in and out. Officers repeatedly tried to de-escalate the situation.’’ When more police arrived, the Teamsters went to the show’s hospitality tent and “harassed the crew there.’’ When the officers went there, King said, “A group of them slashed the tires on 14 different cars owned by the crew.’’

According to Dateline, the Teamsters were protesting because they did not get the contract to do the driving for the cast and crew at the Milton location. Click here to read the full Deadline Hollywood story.