‘I Can’t Even Get a Meal’: California Chef Claims She Was Locked Out of Her Own Restaurant, Mistreated; Attorneys Respond

A public dispute erupted between a well-known Los Angeles soul food chef and two attorneys she once worked with after both sides shared sharply different accounts of a business deal meant to save her restaurant.

Chef Marilyn Ann Cole, popularly known as “Chef Marilyn,” said in a video that she has been pushed out of her own restaurant, “Chef Marilyn’s on Crenshaw,” after more than 30 years in business. Holding photos of attorneys Cierra Carter and Channing Bias Smith, she accused them of taking control and mistreating her.

“They are taking all the money, they are not paying me, they’re not even feeding me,” she said. She also claimed she had not been paid for six weeks and was locked out of the building, “I can’t even get a meal out of here, and I built it,” she added.

The video quickly gained attention online and raised concern among her supporters.

A day later, Carter and Smith responded on Instagram, rejecting the claims. They said they stepped in to help a struggling business that was close to shutting down.

“I became aware that the restaurant was in significant financial trouble,” Smith said. She explained that she partnered with Carter to keep the restaurant open and protect its legacy.

The attorneys said the restaurant had unpaid employees and mounting bills on its tabs. They shared that they created a new business structure after a bankruptcy filing to stabilize operations.

“It was the only way to keep the restaurant open, pay the bills, pay the employees,” Smith said. She added that they also covered some of Cole's past debts and even paid for her bankruptcy attorney.

According to the attorneys, Cole chose not to be involved in the business side. They said she agreed to focus on cooking while receiving payments for her work, as well as compensation for her name, recipes, and likeness.

“We’ve paid Cole everything that we owe her so far under our deal,” they said. “None of these statements is true.”

They also said they have tried to meet with her for two weeks but have not been able to connect.

A spokesperson clarified that the attorneys acted in a personal capacity and through their law firms.

Cole has not responded to follow-up requests for comment. The situation remains unsolved and under investigation as both sides stand firmly by their claims.