Viral Outrage Forces Restaurant Shake-Up After Influencer Dispute

Chef Exits Venture Following Heated Encounter Over Social Media Reach

A culinary dispute that exploded on social media has led to a San Francisco restaurant temporarily closing its doors. The controversy centers on allegations of a chef belittling a TikTok influencer, sparking widespread backlash and prompting significant changes at the establishment.

Influencer Alleges Disrespectful Treatment

The incident unfolded when a TikTok user, known to her followers as Karla, visited the Kis Cafe. While waiting for her husband, Karla claims she overheard the chef, identified as Sung, disparaging her online presence, specifically her follower count. She recounted in a viral video that Sung remarked she had too few followers, leading her to feel embarrassed and disrespected.

Karla, whose follower count has surged from 15,000 to nearly 370,000 following the incident, stated that Sung questioned her knowledge of the wine bar and scrolled aggressively through her TikTok feed. According to Karla, Sung asserted that her videos were not up to his standards for representing the restaurant and implied her followers couldn’t afford to dine there.

The alleged confrontation escalated when Sung reportedly asked Karla if she knew who he was, highlighting his status as a two-time James Beard Award finalist and mentioning his daughter, Big Apple vlogger Isa Sung, who boasts 600,000 TikTok followers. He also reportedly described Karla’s cooking videos as “homey.” The exchange left Karla in tears, feeling deeply disrespected.

“I told him I felt disrespected and didn’t want to collaborate anymore.”

—Karla, TikTok Influencer

Restaurant Cites Unacceptable Behavior, Closes Doors

The Kis Cafe, which only opened in May, has issued a strong statement condemning Sung‘s alleged actions. The establishment declared that Sung is no longer associated with the business in any capacity. The cafe’s co-owner, who has received threats and requested anonymity, informed NBC Bay Area that the venue is “temporarily closed” to reassess its future direction.

The co-owner expressed a commitment to restarting the business with a new approach, separate from Sung, to ensure the staff can continue their livelihoods. The cafe’s statement emphasized its goal to be a welcoming and respectful space, acknowledging a failure to meet those standards in this instance.

Social Media Backlash Fuels Job Offers for Influencer

The viral video has ignited a firestorm of online outrage, with social media users flooding Kis Cafe with negative reviews in solidarity with Karla. Many comments expressed satisfaction with the negative repercussions for the restaurant. Conversely, Karla’s own social media platforms have been inundated with job offers from major brands, underscoring the impact of her reach.

Karla stated her desire to champion micro-influencers, advocating for their respect regardless of follower numbers. She believes that individuals with smaller followings can still make a significant impact and deserve recognition. The trend of influencers leveraging their platforms to hold businesses accountable has grown, with recent studies indicating that over 60% of consumers consider influencer recommendations when making purchasing decisions, as reported by Influencer Marketing Hub in 2023.