San Francisco Chef Resigns After Viral Influencer Clash, Kis Cafe Closes

San Francisco chef Luke Sung publicly apologized after a viral TikTok video by influencer @itskarlabb accused him of belittling her follower count and audience, leading to widespread backlash. Sung admitted to being "condescending, hurtful, and intimidating," and subsequently stepped away permanently from Kis Cafe, which has since closed amid the controversy. The influencer's follower count surged from 15,000 to over 350,000 following the incident, which highlighted tensions between restaurants and social media influencers. Kis Cafe confirmed Sung was no longer affiliated with the restaurant and thanked the community as it ceased operations. The incident sparked a flood of one-star reviews for both Kis Cafe and Sung's previous restaurant. Sung also mentioned his daughter, who has a significantly larger TikTok following, during the confrontation, which further fueled the dispute.