Server's TikTok of Zero Tips From a Table of Six Sparks Massive Tipping Debate

A server on TikTok known as @Andjjj.7 just sparked one of the biggest tipping debates of the year after posting a video showing the tips from a table of six women. Two of the bills came back with no tip at all, and the rest varied. She said she’s grateful for any tip but would prefer 20 percent, a sentiment that clearly hit a nerve — the video racked up 12.7 million views, 802,500 likes, and over 21,000 comments.

The comment section split almost immediately. One side argued that tips should be earned, not expected, while the other insisted that if you can’t afford to tip, you shouldn’t be dining out. The backlash wasn’t limited to restaurants either. A separate viral video from a woman refusing to tip at a mall retail shop added fuel to the fire, showing just how far the tipping conversation has stretched beyond food service.

The real tension underneath it all comes down to pay. Many service workers depend on tips because base wages in tipped positions can be low, while customers are feeling tip fatigue everywhere from coffee counters to checkout tablets. Social media just amplifies what’s already brewing at every register. So we want to hear from you: should tipping be expected or earned? Drop your take in the comments below.