Fed-up restaurant owner shares influencer’s embarrassing message asking for free food in exchange for publicity – and his SCATHING reply
- Restaurant owner sent furious response to Australian Instagram influencers
- Food bloggers @twoteaspoons approached the business for a ‘collaboration’
- In messages posted to Instagram, the influencers offer publicity for free food
- The owner slammed the women after his business was affected by Covid-19
A fed-up restaurant owner has sent a scathing response to an Instagram influencer who asked for free food in exchange for publicity on social media.
Food blogger Elle Groves, who runs the page @twoteaspoons with friend Annie Knight, approached the unnamed restaurant for a ‘collaboration’.
‘We would love to come and try it out in exchange for some stories on our personal accounts, and a post and stories on our personal accounts,’ Ms Groves wrote.
The messages were shared under the hashtag #couscousforcomment by restaurant critic John Lethlean, along with the restaurant owner’s furious response.
‘Hey, Elle apologies for the delay…I’ve been grappling with how much rage to demonstrate/throw in your direction,’ the owner wrote.
A fed-up restaurant owner has sent a scathing response to Instagram food bloggers who offered promotional posts on social media in exchange for free food (pictured left, Elle Groves – who made the offer, and Annie Knight, with whom she shares the Instagram account @twoteaspoons)
Ms Groves pictured with Ms Knight. The messages were shared under the hashtag #couscousforcomment by restaurant critic John Lethlean
‘I’ve decided to take the high road and explain a few things to you in the hope that you’ll learn something and become a better person.
‘Reaching out blind to a venue you know nothing about looking for free stuff is a s****y enough thing to do in the best of times.
‘But it’s even worse when Covid is still very much a thing, affecting small businesses like us devastatingly for two years now.’
The owner goes on to tell Ms Groves her message ‘triggered’ him after Covid forced him to pick up another job on his days off to ensure his staff were paid.
The response drew praise from social media users who applauded the owner for his brutal honesty.
‘A brilliant, well thought out response,’ wrote one person.
‘How good is the response. Words that speak for an industry on it knees. Kudos to whoever penned this,’ said another.
Food blogger Elle Groves, who runs the page @twoteaspoons with friend Annie Knight, approached the unnamed restaurant for a ‘collaboration’
‘A very polite and on point response,’ added a third.
The pair told Daily Mail Australia the aim of their page was to create awareness for small cafes and businesses by promoting them to their 10,000 combined followers.
‘We have never asked companies for free food, it is always left open to them to what they want to offer,’ @twoteaspoons said.
‘We have dined at 99 per cent of restaurants featured on our page paying full price.
The restaurant owner sent a scathing response which was praised by many social media commenters
‘We only wanted to offer this professional exchange based off the amazing feedback we received from the companies that approached us.
‘We always have the restaurants interest at heart and have a huge passion for food and the experiences it brings.’
The viral trend #couscousforcomment has seen Australian influencers shamed for trying to score a free meal in exchange for Instagram promotions.
Social media users regularly ‘out’ bloggers who make cringe-worthy attempts to exchange exposure on the social media platform for complimentary food.
The messages, exposed under the hashtag #couscousforcomment, often draw strongly-worded responses from frustrated restaurants and small businesses.
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