Tensions bubbled under the surface between a prominent food influencer and a chef at a prestigious wine bar in the Bay Area. TikTok sensation Karla narrated a tale of a collaboration with Kis Café that took a sour turn due to an excruciatingly awkward encounter with co-owner and chef Luke Sung. Allegedly, Luke spoke disdainfully about her within her hearing range to the host, prompting her to exit the restaurant in tears. Now, the chef—who has since parted ways with the restaurant—has extended an apology for the incident.
"Karla, I offer my heartfelt apologies for my conduct towards you," Luke penned in an Instagram post shared on Kis Café’s account. "I was condescending, hurtful, and intimidating. You didn't deserve to feel inferior or insignificant, nor does anyone else. Nevertheless, I am grateful for the invaluable lesson you've taught me about kindness and respect." He further stated, "There are no justifications for my behavior, and I've resolved to permanently step away from Kis Café in all capacities."
Luke also underscored that the responsibility for mishandling the situation rested solely on his shoulders. "I've had the privilege of working with many wonderful employees at the restaurant for years," he added, "and they are incredible individuals who shouldn't suffer because of my actions."
This apology follows Karla's viral video recounting the uncomfortable encounter. She revealed that she was invited to collaborate with the restaurant but was later turned away over her follower count. "He was having none of it, telling the host that inviting me was a mistake and that it was all bad," Karla recounted in her July 23 TikTok video. "At that moment, I turned crimson with embarrassment and felt deeply disrespected."
Eventually, the chef approached her personally. After she shook his hand and expressed her enthusiasm for the collaboration, Karla claimed she was bombarded with questions about her research on their restaurant. Upon admitting she knew little about the wine bar since it had just opened and lacked a website, she alleged that the chef criticized her content.
"He started scrolling through and playing my TikToks at full volume in the restaurant," she claimed. "After scrolling through twice, he said that he didn't think my videos were up to the standard he wanted for his restaurant to be represented." She continued, "He went on to say that my audience and followers weren't the kind of people who would frequent his restaurant, implying that they couldn't afford to dine there."
After a lengthy exchange, Karla decided to withdraw from the collaboration entirely and tearfully expressed her sense of disrespect. "They were discussing me right in front of me and belittling my work," she explained in the video. "And he told me he was offended because I didn't introduce myself to him."
E! News reached out to Karla, Luke, and Kis Café for comment but received no response.
Just hours after Karla posted her now-viral video advocating for other micro-influencers in the area, the restaurant addressed the incident on social media. "Our chef's behavior was unacceptable, and he is no longer part of our team as a co-owner, chef, or in any capacity," Kis Café wrote on Instagram on July 24. "As of this post, he (Luke) has reached out to the creator with a personal apology."
The statement continued, "His behavior does not reflect the rest of our team. We aspire to create a welcoming and respectful space for everyone. In this instance, we failed to do so." Although the Hayes Valley restaurant had only been open for a few weeks, the team announced that it would temporarily close its doors. "We are closing soon and restructuring in the wake of these events," the statement read. "In the meantime, we hope to continue supporting the livelihoods of our team members and their families. We understand the frustration and anger, but please refrain from using this lapse in our values as an excuse for racism and hate speech towards us and our loved ones."
