Restaurant shuts down after chef insults TikTok influencer, prompting outrage: 'Still shaking'

The eatery, Kis Café, closed down last week, according to its own Instagram post. A TikTok creator named Karla - who doesn't share her last name but goes by the handle @itskarlabb - alleged that the restaurant's chef, Luke Sung, belittled her during an interaction.

Since the video went viral, Karla's follower count shot up to over 400,000 - but before, she said, she only had 15,000.

"This guy pulls up my TikTok and says that I have 15,000 followers," Karla recounted in the video. "He was saying that I have too [few] followers and that this was a mistake."

"He goes on to say that my audience and my followers are not the kind of people that are going to be at his restaurant," she continued. 

Sung also allegedly asked Karla if she knew who he was and bragged that his daughter had 600,000 followers on social media.

Her video prompted outrage, with tens of thousands of users directing criticism at Kis Café.

"Well, he was right about one thing: Your followers are not going to be eating at his restaurant," one user said.

Another wrote, "I can't believe follower counts are the new currency for respect. Like, we're human beings."

While announcing its closure on Instagram, the Kis Café called Sung's behavior "unacceptable."

"That behavior does not reflect the remainder of our team. We want to create a space that's welcoming and respectful to everyone," the post said. 

"In this instance, we failed to do so."

Sung also shared a statement on the Kis Café Instagram page, writing that it was "important" to apologize and step away from the business.

"Karla - I am truly sorry for my actions towards you," Sung wrote.

 "I was condescending, hurtful and intimidating."

Sung added that his behavior "should not be a reflection on anyone else who works there, or anyone who is related to me."

Fox News Digital reached out to Sung, Kis Café, and Karla for additional comment.