Luke Sung, the award-winning chef and co-founder of Kis Cafe in San Francisco, has said a viral TikTok scandal has destroyed his career and family. The incident occurred last month when micro influencer Karla Marcotte posted a video claiming Sung dismissed her because her 15,000 followers were too small for a collaboration. The video has since amassed 477,000 views.
Sung told The San Francisco Standard that the confrontation arose from a miscommunication with his business partner, who failed to inform him of the influencer's visit. He explained that he approached Marcotte to clarify whether they shared the same audience, asking if she knew his background and the restaurant's goals. He admitted his questioning may have intimidated her.
After the video went viral, Kis Cafe issued a statement saying Sung's behaviour was unacceptable and that he was no longer part of the team. Sung later apologised on Instagram, but the restaurant has since closed, resulting in job losses for the entire team.
The incident has sparked debate over who is at fault: the influencer for publicly slamming the restaurant, or the chef for confronting her. While some argue that influencers should consider the impact of their posts, others note that Marcotte did not name Sung or Kis Cafe in her video, and that people are entitled to share their experiences online.
Ultimately, the situation highlights the importance of clear communication between restaurant partners and the potential consequences of public disputes in the age of social media.
