A restaurant owner in downtown Evanston, Illinois, is facing public backlash and police scrutiny after a video surfaced online showing him aggressively confronting a customer for not leaving a tip.
The incident, which occurred at Table to Stix Ramen, was caught on camera and shared by Instagram user Capital Gentlemen. In the viral video, owner Kenny Chou can be seen following a customer outside the restaurant, angrily confronting him after he paid for a $19.89 meal with a $20 bill but left no tip.
Despite the customer’s calm demeanor and repeated explanations that he paid in full, Chou can be heard shouting expletives and threatening violence. “I’ll smack the st out of you, you punka sthead,” Chou says in the video, later yelling, “How are my staff supposed to make money? I’ll slap the st out of you!”
The footage quickly gained traction online, prompting an outpouring of negative reviews on Yelp and protests outside the restaurant. In response to the backlash, Chou issued a public apology.
“It was a deeply regrettable moment where I, Kenny Chou, lost my composure,” he said in a statement. “I stepped far beyond the bounds of respect and decency.” He also reportedly sent a handwritten apology and a complimentary meal to the customer’s brother.
Chou told CBS News Chicago that he was remorseful and wanted to apologize directly to the customer and his family. “I was just asking if he could pass this message along to his little brother,” he said.
The Evanston Police Department has confirmed that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
As for the customer’s reason for not tipping, he offered a simple explanation in the video’s comments section: “Oh, I just didn’t want to.”
Sources By Agencies
