Two co-owners of the Warlord restaurant in Avondale, Emily Kraszyk and John Lupton, have publicly condemned their business partner Trevor Fleming following allegations of abuse and creating a toxic workplace. This marks the first time Kraszyk and Lupton have distanced themselves from Fleming in public statements.
Fleming faces charges after prosecutors accused him of sharing explicit images of a woman he dated without her consent in 2023. He was charged with felony nonconsensual dissemination of a sexual image earlier this month. The woman involved has obtained an order of protection against Fleming this week, while another woman secured an order against him in 2025. Both allege abuse by Fleming.
In a statement to Block Club Chicago, Kraszyk and Lupton said, “that type of behavior and any individuals who perpetrate it have no place at Warlord.” They added: “Warlord was built on the foundations of family and friendship — a destination for our community. The trust of that community has been broken, and we will do everything in our power to earn it back as we coordinate with legal counsel on an appropriate path forward. Our top priority is to provide safe space for our team and foster an inclusive experience for our valued neighbors and guests.”
The two co-owners did not respond immediately to further questions about whether they plan to remove Fleming from the business or other details regarding the restaurant’s future.
News about the case has circulated widely on social media as Warlord had become one of Chicago’s notable restaurants since its opening in 2023. The group behind Warlord is planning a second restaurant called Lords at 2803 W. Chicago Ave., but those plans are now under scrutiny from local residents and officials amid backlash over the allegations.
Organizers with the Chicago Hospitality Accountable Actions Database Project—a group supporting restaurant workers—are protesting against the proposed opening of Lords rather than targeting Warlord directly, aiming to avoid affecting current staff at Warlord since Lords is not yet operational.
Alderman Gilbert Villegas (36th Ward), whose jurisdiction includes the planned location for Lords, stated his office is aware of “troubling allegations of abuse” involving Fleming. “We take these allegations seriously and are in communication with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection about next steps,” Villegas said. “We stand with survivors of abuse and expect that of any business that comes into our communities.”
Alderman Jessie Fuentes (26th Ward) also acknowledged receiving concerns from constituents regarding both restaurants since reports emerged: “We take these concerns seriously, and we want to be clear that we stand with survivors of abuse in all its forms,” Fuentes said.
Property records show that owners established a limited liability company for Lords last November. According to city officials, there is currently no business license filed for Lords’ location; although an application process began in November, it remains incomplete.
Hospitality industry organizers reported more than twelve former employees or industry workers contacted them during 2024 alleging negative experiences while working under Fleming’s management. Following these accounts, organizers issued warnings about working at Warlord upon multiple requests from affected workers.
Lead organizer Raeghn Draper commented: “What I’ve heard most consistently from workers is that they want justice; I think they want him to take responsibility for the harm he has caused, which is not likely to happen.”
Fleming declined further comment beyond denying all accusations against him when appearing in court Wednesday: he maintained he had not abused former romantic partners nor staff members at Warlord. Regarding protests or boycotts targeting his businesses due to public reaction over recent reports, Fleming said: “people are going to do what they’re going to do,” expressing disappointment over what he described as damage done not just personally but also toward his colleagues after nearly two decades honing his chef career.
