Influencer Charged After Throwing Cheesesteak at Restaurant Worker

A food reviewer known for discarding meals he dislikes has been charged with harassment after throwing a Philly cheesesteak at a restaurant worker. The incident occurred earlier this week at Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia.

Surveillance footage captured the influencer, who has not been publicly identified, sitting at an outdoor table. After dissecting the cheesesteak, the individual approached the counter and hurled the sandwich at Tom Francano, the manager who has worked at the establishment for nearly 50 years, before fleeing the scene.

Frank Olivieri, the owner of Pat's, identified the assailant after the influencer posted a video of the attack on YouTube and Instagram. The YouTube video, titled 'I Threw This Cheesesteak in His Face Geno's Steaks,' featured a thumbnail image of the cheesesteak in mid-air with the text overlay, "THIS CHEESESTEAK SUCKED!". Olivieri noted the attacker confused Pat's with a rival establishment.

"How brazen are you to assault somebody and then post it?" Olivieri asked in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer. "Thank God for stupidity." He added, "He wanted to be famous. He got exactly what he asked for. Now, he needs to be accountable for his actions and his words."

The video also appeared on a new Instagram account, YAM TV, which identified itself as a reality food critic show. Neither account revealed the identity of the person responsible.

Olivieri initially offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the attacker's arrest and conviction. On Friday, reports indicated that the influencer turned himself in to the police, who subsequently charged him with harassment. The motive for the attack remains unclear, though reports suggest the content creator has a pattern of throwing food at employees when dissatisfied with a meal.

Olivieri expressed disappointment with the harassment charge, questioning its potential penalty. "What are they going to give him, community service? Maybe he should come over here and sweep the pavement," he stated. Olivieri emphasized his pursuit of action was not just for himself but for all businesses and workers who have faced similar incidents. Pat's King of Steaks is reportedly considering a policy to prohibit cameras on its premises in the future.