A newly opened restaurant has unexpectedly shut down following a debacle involving one of its chefs and a TikTok influencer, who was criticized for her follower count during a promotional collaboration.
Karla, known as ‘itskarlabb’ on TikTok, had approximately 15, 000 followers prior to sharing the details of her negative experience with the establishment. Since the incident went viral, her follower count has skyrocketed to over 300, 000, while the restaurant has closed its doors.
On July 23, Karla posted a video recounting her visit to Kis Cafe, located in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley. She had intended to promote the wine bar through her platform, but what was meant to be a collaboration quickly soured.
Karla is a TikTok creator and food enthusiast dedicated to spotlighting local dining hotspots in San Francisco.
TikTok Incident Sparks Viral Outrage
During her visit, Karla reported that the chef and the host were openly critiquing her TikTok presence from just a few feet away. In her recounting, she stated, “This guy [the chef] is not happy about it. He’s saying that I have too few followers and that this was a mistake… that this was bad.”
Feeling embarrassed and disrespected, Karla shared that the chef eventually introduced himself but continued to question her commitment to the collaboration.“Immediately he says, ‘Did you do any research on this restaurant? Do you know what we do? Do you know who we are?’” she recounted.
Despite informing him that she had reviewed the menu—albeit the restaurant lacked an official website—the chef dismissed her efforts. He proceeded to play some of her TikTok videos on his phone at full volume, criticizing their quality and implying that her audience would not represent the clientele he desired for his establishment.
Karla further stated, “He goes on to say that my audience and my followers are not the kind of people that are going to be at his restaurant.” His condescending remarks culminated in a thinly veiled expression of elitism when he asked, “Not to be snobby, but do you know who I am?”
The chef, who touted his status as a James Beard award nominee, boasted about his daughter’s TikTok following of over 600, 000. Overwhelmed by the encounter, Karla left the cafe, indicating she would remember this interaction.
@itskarlabb its a long video and not something i would normally upload but i feel like i had to talk about this experience.i basically ran out of there but i wish i would’ve stood up for myself.if you are a micro influencer i know it’s easy to feel discouraged at times but don’t let anyone make you feel small or unimportant!!
Kis Cafe’s Closure Following Viral Backlash
In the wake of Karla’s viral clip, which garnered over 21 million views and attracted attention from high-profile figures like Alex Cooper of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Kis Cafe found itself facing intense scrutiny. Although Karla did not directly disclose the name of the restaurant, her account quickly led netizens to identify the venue.
The outcry was swift and strong. Kis Cafe publicly addressed the situation, stating, “Our chef’s behavior was unacceptable and he is no longer part of the team in any capacity.” They clarified that the chef departed voluntarily following the incident. In their announcement, Kis Cafe expressed plans for closure and restructuring.
Two days following the incident, the chef issued a personal apology to Karla, her family, and his own. He acknowledged his condescending and hurtful behavior, expressing regret for making her feel undervalued.
As of now, Kis Cafe’s official Instagram account reflects that the restaurant is permanently closed. Meanwhile, Karla’s rise on TikTok continues, with over 300, 000 followers now at her fingertips. In a subsequent video, she expressed gratitude to her supporters, hoping that the restaurant would learn from this experience, despite her sadness that her rise to fame was tied to such a negative incident.
@itskarlabb im just so grateful to everyone that helped me turn this around and find the silver lining in it🫶🏼 thank you to everyone that’s shown me support – I’m trying my best to respond to everyone’s kind messages love you guys🥹🤍🤍 many yummy videos to come!!
Karla has received significant support from across social media, including endorsements from prominent personalities such as Tana Mongeau and Trisha Paytas, who praised her food reviews and resilience. Tana noted, “You are a queen. Happy you stood up for yourself. Immediate follow, ” while Trisha remarked, “Thankful it popped up on my fyp, ’cause your content is soooo good. Immediate follow.”
This situation illustrates both the power of social media in shaping reputations and the potential repercussions of public behavior in the digital age.
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