An influencer attempts to shame restaurant owners, but it backfires spectacularly.

In the age of social media, influencers have a tendency to leverage their social media presence to share experiences, promote businesses, and even publicly shame poor service. But one influencer recently learned the hard way that public shaming does not always go as planned. When she tried to call out a restaurant for what she termed “terrible service,” the response was swift and unexpected, leaving her completely gobsmacked.

A Social Media Call-Out Gone Wrong
The Instagram and TikTok influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers resorted to social media to share what she referred to as a “disastrous” dinner outing. Through a lengthy message, she complained about the staff at the restaurant being rude, the prices being too high for the food, and the ambiance being “completely underwhelming.”

Her clip, which was taken while capturing the restaurant interior and pieces of her meal, read:

“I would not recommend this to my worst enemy! Poor service, costly food, and surly staff. Avoid at all costs!”

In expectation of having her followers rallied behind her, the influencer was taken aback when things easily got out of control.

The Restaurant Strikes Back with Proofs
The alleged restaurant, which was a successful family-run bistro, took the allegations in stride. Rather than dismissing the charges, the owners countered with their version of the events—substantiated by security recordings and customer comments.

In a theatrics of its own kind, the restaurant released a detailed response on their official social media platforms. They claimed that the influencer had indeed received fantastic service but became irate when she was not offered a free meal for providing a “shoutout” on her social media.

“We appreciate all our customers but don’t think that giving free meals for publicity is a good idea,” the owners put up. “We treat everyone the same and believe in our service. This is what really happened.”

The restaurant then posted old CCTV video footage of their staff serving the influencer and her entourage with smiles and politeness. They also posted screenshots of direct messages where the influencer allegedly reached out to them requesting a complimentary meal in exchange for social media promotion—an offer the owners politely declined.

Public Opinion Turns Against the Influencer
What ensued was a complete reversal of events from what the influencer had expected. Instead of sympathy, she found herself at the center of a social media backlash.

Users flooded her post with comments, criticizing her for trying to bully a small business for selfish reasons. People praised the restaurant for standing firm, labeling influencer entitlement.

“This is why influencers aren’t trusted anymore. Businesses do their best, and you just expect things for free?” another commenter stated.
“She got roasted big time! Good on the restaurant for defending themselves!” another wrote.
The backlash was so intense that the influencer had to disable comments on her post and later made a public apology.

The Lesson: Authenticity Over Entitlement
This is a testament to a growing trend within the influencer industry—where some content creators look for free goods, services, or food in exchange for promotion. Though influencer marketing is powerful, brands are growing cautious with whom they work with, especially as consumers increasingly call for greater transparency.

For small companies, social media is a double-edged sword. A positive review can raise visibility, while a negative—or in this instance, deceptive—review can destroy reputations. But the manner in which this restaurant responded to the situation confirms that honesty and professionalism always prevail.

Final Thoughts
Finally, the influencer’s shame ploy backfired in the most dramatic possible way, leaving her “absolutely gobsmacked” by the tide of support for the restaurant. Reminder to all: integrity is key, and when businesses stand on what is right, the truth will always come out on top.

Would you support a restaurant that won’t cave to influencer pressure? Let us know in the comments!