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A Los Angeles restaurant, Great White, is facing serious allegations of racial segregation after a diner posted a TikTok video claiming Asian customers were intentionally seated in a separate area of the establishment. The claims, made by influencer Cassidy Cho on September 27, have ignited a firestorm of online debate and prompted a denial from the restaurant’s owners.
TikTok Video Sparks Outrage
Cassidy Cho detailed her experience at the Great White cafe in Melrose, California, in a now-viral TikTok video. She observed that she and other patrons who appeared to be Asian were directed to a secluded corner of the restaurant,while other diners occupied the main seating area. “I don’t know if it’s just me, but they put all Asians in one corner… everybody is white in the main seating area,” Cho stated in the video.
To further substantiate her claim, Cho filmed the arrival of a new party and confirmed they, too, were Asian and were directed to the same corner. She expressed concern that the restaurant might be intentionally segregating customers based on race, suggesting they may be “embarrassed of us.”
Customer accounts Echo Allegations
Cho’s experience resonated with other customers who shared similar stories in the comments section of her TikTok and in online reviews. one user wrote, “My boyfriend is Korean and they put us in the corner both times we went, oh my god, maybe you’re onto something.” Others echoed this sentiment, with one individual stating they would “never go back” after experiencing the same alleged treatment. Several reviewers on Google and Instagram also reported being directed to the same isolated area.
Restaurant Denies Claims, Addresses Name Controversy
Great White’s owners, Sam Cooper and Sam Trude, vehemently denied the accusations, dismissing them as “bogus social media speculation.” In a statement to The Daily Mail,they asserted,”Great White is named after a shark. It has nothing to do with race. Any notion that we have mistreated customers or employees or seated people based on thier ethnicity is absolutely outrageous and wholly false. Everyone is welcome here.”
The owners further emphasized their commitment to inclusivity, stating, “Everyone is welcome here, that has never changed, and it never will.”
The restaurant’s name, “Great White,” also drew criticism online, with some users pointing to the predatory nature of the shark as a possibly insensitive association. However,the owners explicitly addressed this concern,reiterating that the name is solely based on the animal and holds no racial connotations.
Similar Accusations Surface Elsewhere
This incident is not isolated. A similar accusation was recently made against One if by Land, Two if by Sea, a restaurant on the East Coast of the US, where a TikToker alleged that Asian diners were intentionally seated together on the second floor and treated differently. the restaurant responded with a statement affirming its commitment to welcoming all guests “irrespective of religion, nationality and what they look like.”
Great White Cafe, which originated in Australia, operates locations in Venice, Larchmont, Melrose, and Brentwood, and boasts nearly 71,000 followers on Instagram. The restaurant’s menu features a variety of dishes, including chicken kebabs, ceviche, and steak frites, without listing prices.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Great White for
