A ramen shop owner in Evanston, Illinois, has issued a public apology after a video of him aggressively confronting a customer who didn’t leave a tip went viral. The footage, which spread rapidly across social media platforms, shows Table to Stix owner Kenny Chou berating and threatening a customer outside his restaurant.
According to a report by the New York Post, the incident occurred after a customer paid for a $19.89 meal with a $20 bill and left without tipping. The confrontation was captured by an Instagram user going by the handle @capital_gentlemen, who shared the now-viral video.
Heated exchange caught on camera
In the video, the customer is seen walking away calmly as Chou follows and verbally harasses him. Despite repeated pleas from the customer to be left alone, Chou becomes increasingly hostile.
“I paid for my food. I handed you $20. You cannot charge more than what you paid, so what are you talking about?” the customer says, attempting to de-escalate the situation. He then reiterates, “What do you want? I paid for my food!”
Chou, however, responds with profanity and threats. “I’ll smack the st out of you, you punk sthead,” he shouts, adding, “Shut your goddam fking mouth. How are my staff supposed to make money? I’ll slap the s**t out of you!”
Public backlash forces owner to apologise
The video sparked widespread criticism online and led to a wave of negative reviews on Yelp. Protesters also reportedly gathered outside the restaurant to express their disapproval of Chou’s conduct.
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.”
According to CBS News Chicago, Chou attempted to make amends by delivering a complimentary meal and a handwritten apology to the customer’s brother. “I apologize to him and to his family, and I was just asking if he could pass this message along to his little brother,” Chou told the station.
Evanston police launch investigation
Local law enforcement has confirmed that the matter remains under investigation. The Evanston Police Department is currently reviewing the incident to determine whether charges will be filed.
Customer explains his reason for not tipping
While the confrontation has reignited national debate about tipping culture in the U.S., the customer’s own explanation was simple. When asked in the comment section of the original video why he chose not to tip, he replied, “Oh, I just didn’t want to.”
