Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz and TikTok food critic Keith Lee got into a heated debate over celebrity perks and restaurant service during an appearance on Kirk Franklin’s digital series “Den of Kings.”
The rapper opened the exchange by questioning a negative review of Esco Restaurant & Tapas, the Atlanta restaurant he launched in 2016. Social media users later pointed out that the review he described was posted by another food creator, Mr. Chimetime, rather than Lee.
The conversation then turned to how restaurants should treat famous guests.
2 Chainz said celebrities get “perks that other people don’t get” because of the work they have put in, adding that he should not have to wait 40 minutes for a table.
Lee said his reviews are meant to reflect what everyday customers experience. He said he does not want anyone to get a different experience “only because they not Keith Lee.”
He said he sent his mother-in-law to 10 Atlanta restaurants, where she struggled to get service, while he was seated immediately once staff recognized him.
2 Chainz also asked whether Lee’s background as a professional MMA fighter and his diet affected his taste in food. Lee said his focus on nutrition led him to cooking and that it was unfair to ask for his opinion and then be upset by it.
Lee also pointed out that fame does not last, asking 2 Chainz what would happen if it all went away. He said everyone deserves to be treated like a regular person regardless of their status.
The clip spread quickly online. Many users on X sided with Lee, saying 2 Chainz’s comments overlooked the everyday customers who keep restaurants open.