Restaurant Shuts Down After Influencer Dispute Sparks Viral Backlash
July 29, 2025

A rising food spot in San Francisco has been forced to close its doors temporarily following a heated altercation between its co-owner and a TikTok influencer—which quickly spiraled into a viral storm.

The controversy erupted at Kis Cafe, a trendy new wine bar in the Bay Area, after chef and co-owner Luke Sung allegedly belittled food creator @itskarlabb (real name Karla) during what was meant to be a promotional collaboration. Karla and her husband were invited for a free dining experience in exchange for a video review shared with her social media followers.

However, Karla’s visit turned into a nightmare. In a now-viral video, she described overhearing Sung question the value of the partnership, saying she “had too few followers” to justify the comped meal. At the time, Karla had 15,000 followers—a number that has since skyrocketed to over 380,000.

“He was saying I had too little followers,” Karla recounted tearfully. “I felt humiliated.”

The situation worsened when Sung allegedly criticized her videos out loud in front of staff and customers, ultimately declaring her content unworthy of representing his establishment. He also reportedly made elitist comments about her audience’s ability to afford the cafe and touted his own status as a two-time James Beard Award finalist—while also name-dropping his daughter, Isa Sung, a popular NYC TikToker.

Karla, visibly upset, left the restaurant in tears and backed out of the collaboration.

Although she didn’t name Sung or the restaurant in her post, internet users swiftly identified both—and the backlash was swift. The cafe was bombarded with negative Yelp reviews and social media outrage, prompting a public statement from Kis Cafe confirming that Sung was no longer associated with the business.

“He is no longer part of the team,” the statement read. “We failed to create a welcoming and respectful environment, and we take full responsibility.”

Sung later issued a personal apology via the cafe’s Instagram, admitting that his behavior was “condescending, hurtful, and intimidating.” He thanked Karla for teaching him “a valuable lesson in kindness and respect” and announced his permanent departure from Kis Cafe.

His daughter, Isa, also publicly denounced his actions and voiced her support for Karla.

The restaurant has since closed temporarily to “restructure,” according to a co-owner who stated they plan to reopen with a renewed focus on integrity and inclusivity.

“We ask the public not to use this situation to fuel racism or hate,” the cafe added in their closing message.