In an unusual incident that has taken social media by storm, a food vlogger was asked to leave a restaurant after the owner noticed him filming his dining experience. The encounter, captured on video, has sparked widespread conversation about the ethics of food vlogging and its impact on small businesses. The video, which was posted on X (formerly Twitter), shows the vlogger placing an order for spring rolls and paying upfront, only to be asked to leave by the visibly frustrated restaurant owner.
Kalesh b/w A Food Vlogger and a Shopkeeper (Context in the Clip) pic.twitter.com/7B7MSJXQs0
— Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh) October 23, 2024
The owner returned the vlogger’s money and requested that he take his business elsewhere. When the vlogger asked why, the owner expressed concern about potential negative publicity. “Main tum logo se dur rehta hun, mera apna restaurant bohat badia hai bhai. Mujhko nhi chaiye tumhare jaise vlogger” (I stay away from people like you. My restaurant is doing great, brother. I don’t need vloggers like you),” the owner said in the video, fearing that the vlogger might post a positive review on camera but later criticize the food, potentially harming the restaurant’s reputation.
The video has gone viral, amassing over 600,000 views, with viewers sharing a mix of reactions. Many users expressed their support for the restaurant owner, with one commenter noting, “Full support to the shopkeeper in this. No one is forcing anyone to eat there, but don’t hurt someone’s business especially when we are having zero Government support in anything.” Another remarked on the vlogger’s possible intentions: “That you will take a good video here and then you will edit & tell something else to the public. If food vloggers are doing that then it is not right.”
The incident has also sparked a broader discussion about the growing trend of food vloggers and their potential impact on small businesses. One user pointed out, “There is a need to crack down on this gang that loots poor food sellers in the name of making videos. They forcibly make videos. They eat for free. They also forcibly take money.” The overwhelming sentiment from viewers has been in favor of the restaurant owner, with many suggesting that other shopkeepers should adopt a similar approach when dealing with vloggers.
As this debate continues to unfold online, the incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between content creation and respecting small businesses’ livelihoods.
