Food influencer leaves scathing review of Fat Wingz & More. But the Texas food truck exposes the reason for his ‘faulty food review’

Social media has seen a steady rise in food influencers, some more unexpected than others, who often share reviews of viral food and hidden gem eateries. In some cases, influencers with large followings are even offered free services in exchange for a review. One food influencer, however, was accused of leaving a negative review after allegedly being denied a free meal.

The incident began on Oct. 26, when food influencer MrFreeskiPYO (@unodeepv), who has over tens of thousands of followers, visited the family-owned food truck, Fat Wingz & More, located near Prairie View A&M University in Hempstead, Texas. MrFreeskiPYO later posted a review of his experience with the food truck on TikTok, claiming he “wasted $30” just to eat “frozen” chicken wings.

MrFreeskiPYO’s video also showed him running over the takeout meal with his car, describing the food as “nasty.” He has since turned his account private days after posting the review.

Food influencer allegedly says he doesn’t pay for food

@ceo.drakko, the owner of Fat Wingz & More, shared security footage of the alleged incident on his social media. “No free food so you drop a faulty food review,” the owner said in his caption.

In the video, MrFreeskiPYO appeared to approach the food truck and show an employee his phone. A screenshot of a text message seemingly between ceo.drakko and his employee suggested that the interaction with MrFreeskiPYO involved the influencer advertising his TikTok page. “But like he want it for free,” the employee said in a text.

MrFreeskiPYO then asked if a manager was present. But when he was told no, he allegedly told the employee that he usually charges $250 for food reviews, so that he is “showing love” to the food. “I have never paid for food on a review,” the influencer said, according to ceo.drakko.

When the employee insisted they couldn’t give him a free meal, MrFreeskiPYO allegedly responded that he would be “thorough” in his food review since he “had to pay” for his takeout. He also claimed he would be honest if the food tasted frozen.

According to ceo.drakko, MrFreeskiPYO ultimately purchased two trays of chicken wings. He also accused the food influencer of attempting to create “clickbait” by pretending to run over the food with his car, but allegedly placing all the food in a second tray that wasn’t shown in MrFreeskiPYO’s video.

Influencers can help drive sales

Influencers have become an integral part of modern marketing, offering followers a more authentic and personalized experience with products, according to the University of Fairfax. Food influencers, in particular, hold significant power to make or break a business.

Bimpos reported that a study found 70% of customers trust consumer reviews more than corporate advertisements, highlighting the effectiveness of influencers in driving brand awareness within specific communities. Additionally, research on influencer marketing in the restaurant industry shows that influencers not only generate admiration for brands through their opinions, but may also serve as brand ambassadors due to the quick impact they have on their audiences. With the right influencer, a business can generate $17.50 in profit for every $1 spent on marketing.

While it’s not the first time an influencer has given a scathing review of a meal, it remains unclear how MrFreeskiPYO’s opinions may have impacted Fat Wingz & More. However, he has doubled down on his review, posting screenshots in ceo.drakko’s comment section that allegedly show his viewers sharing similar opinions about the food. “ion need nun free I do paid collabs n pulled up to show love n gave a honest review ts baby shower food,” MrFreeskiPYO added.

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