Latest news with #KisCafé
Fox News
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Restaurant shuts down after chef insults TikTok influencer, prompting outrage: 'Still shaking'
A San Francisco restaurant recently closed its doors after an influencer shared a viral encounter she had with the restaurant's chef. The eatery, Kis Café, closed down last week, according to its own Instagram post. A TikTok creator named Karla — who doesn't share her last name but goes by the handle @itskarlabb — alleged that the restaurant's chef, Luke Sung, belittled her during an interaction. "I'm still shaking and I feel so frazzled, but I just left a restaurant collaboration crying," the creator said in the viral video, which has racked up some 22 million views to date. Since the video went viral, Karla's follower count shot up to over 400,000 – but before, she said, she only had 15,000. During a collaboration with the restaurant, Karla said Sung – who also co-owns Kis Café – approached her and asked who she was. When he pulled up her account, the chef allegedly scoffed at Karla's perceived lack of influence. "This guy pulls up my TikTok and says that I have 15,000 followers," Karla recounted in the video. "He was saying that I have too [few] followers and that this was a mistake." "It seemed like he was insinuating that my followers would not be able to afford to eat at this restaurant." "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," she continued. "It seemed like he was insinuating that my followers would not be able to afford to eat at this restaurant." Sung also allegedly asked Karla if she knew who he was and bragged that his daughter had 600,000 followers on social media. In response, Karla said she "turned red" and left the restaurant. Her video prompted outrage, with tens of thousands of users directing criticism at Kis Café. "Well, he was right about one thing: Your followers are not going to be eating at his restaurant," one user said. Another wrote, "I can't believe follower counts are the new currency for respect. Like, we're human beings." "We want to create a space that's welcoming and respectful." While announcing its closure on Instagram, the Kis Café called Sung's behavior "unacceptable." "That behavior does not reflect the remainder of our team. We want to create a space that's welcoming and respectful to everyone," the post said. "In this instance, we failed to do so." It went on, "We are closing soon and restructuring after these events. In the meantime, we hope to still be able to sustain the livelihoods of our team members and their families." Sung also shared a statement on the Kis Café Instagram page, writing that it was "important" to apologize and step away from the business. "I was condescending, hurtful and intimidating." "Karla – I am truly sorry for my actions towards you," Sung wrote. "I was condescending, hurtful and intimidating." He went on, "You did not deserve to be made to feel less than or unimportant. Nobody does. Regardless, I thank you for teaching me a valuable lesson in kindness and respect. There are no excuses to be made." Sung added that his behavior "should not be a reflection on anyone else who works there, or anyone who is related to me." Fox News Digital reached out to Sung, Kis Café, and Karla for additional comment.
Sky News AU
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
‘Embarrassing': U.S. restaurant co-owner loses job after humiliating influencer and refusing to give her free meal
An American chef has been fired from a recently opened San Francisco restaurant after refusing to give an influencer a free meal and 'embarrassing' her. Karla, known online as @itskarlabb, had organized a collaboration with Kis Café in which she would make a video and the restaurant would give her a free dinner. Karla said she was left in tears following the exchange with co-owner Luke Sung. Picture: supplied. However, the evening took a sudden turn when co-owner Luke Sung demanded the restaurant host show him Karla's TikTok account, according to a video posted to the site by the influencer. Karla, who had 15k followers at the time, said the man was questioning why Karla was chosen for a collaboration. '[Sung] was saying that I have too little followers and that this was a mistake,' she said. 'This is all happening in front of me, and they know that I can hear them. 'At this point I am turning red because I am so embarrassed and I feel really disrespected.' @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!! ♬ original sound - itskarlabb Karla said Sung approached her soon after, and she was left 'shaking' and in tears following the exchange. 'He says to me that he doesn't think my videos are at the level at which he wants his restaurant to be represented,' she said. '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.' Karla left the restaurant crying and didn't wish to continue the collaboration, saying she felt 'disrespected.' Her video has been viewed more than 20 million times, and in a statement to social media, the restaurant announced Sung would not be continuing at the company. The restaurant announced in a social media statement Luke Sung had been let go from the position. Picture: supplied 'He is no longer part of the team as a co-owner, a chef or in any other way,' it read. 'That behaviour does not reflect the remainder of our team. We want to create a space that's welcoming and respectful to everyone. 'In this instance, we failed to do so.' Another co-owner of Sung's, who chose to remain anonymous, said the restaurant is figuring out its next steps. 'When we're ready, we will restart differently, separate from chef,' they told NBC Bay Area. Karla has gained more than 100k followers since her video went viral. Picture: TikTok 'This way my staff can also continue their livelihoods.' Since Karla's video was posted, she has amassed more than 373k followers on TikTok - and said she will continue to be a voice for 'micro' influencers. 'You don't need to have a million followers to be respected or feel like you're making a difference,' she said. 'I love spotlighting small businesses and I want to continue to do that and have fun.'
