Chef Luke Sung exits amid influencer confrontation

Chef Luke Sung leaves Kis Cafe following backlash from a viral confrontation with a TikTok influencer.

Chef Luke Sung resigns after influencer clash

Chef Luke Sung has stepped down from his position at Kis Cafe in San Francisco after facing criticism for his interactions with TikTok influencer @itskarlabb. The incident, which escalated quickly, occurred during a planned collaboration. The influencer cited Sung's disparaging remarks about her follower count, which she mentioned led to a rude exchange that left her in tears. The viral video of their encounter has since drawn significant attention, resulting in a rapid increase in her followers from 15,000 to over 350,000. Following the fallout, Kis Cafe's Yelp rating also took a nosedive, dropping from four stars to just over two.

This incident highlights the volatile relationship between traditional chefs and the new breed of social media influencers. Sung's apparent disregard for a micro-influencer's worth points to a larger issue within the culinary industry, where follower counts have begun to weigh heavily on who gets representation and respect. As more consumers turn to social media platforms for recommendations, established figures like Sung must adapt to this new reality or risk facing backlash, as evidenced by the swift drop in his restaurant's ratings.

Highlights

This incident may accelerate changes in how restaurants engage with influencers.