Twitch streamer and TikTok creator CrashOutKent says a recent visit to Ninja Ramen in York, PA, left him feeling unwelcome, sparking a social media debate about race, customer service, and the broader conversation surrounding calls to boycott some Asian-owned businesses.
The Pennsylvania-based content creator, who has built a following through his street interviews and storytime videos, documented the encounter during a visit to the restaurant. According to Kent, he initially chose a seat in the corner to avoid disturbing other customers while filming. He later claimed he spent about 10 minutes waiting without receiving a menu or being approached by staff.
Believing employees may not have noticed him, Kent said he moved to another table closer to workers and waited an additional 20 minutes. He alleged that despite an employee walking past him, he was still not acknowledged.
Kent also claimed that other patrons who entered the restaurant were seated and given menus immediately. When he finally asked for one himself, he said the menu was placed on the table in a manner that felt dismissive.
Ultimately, Kent said he left without ordering.
“They didn’t even speak to me. S*** kinda hurt a little bit,” he said after returning to his car. “I have never been profiled before. I don’t think this was profiling. Y’all let me know in the comments. All I can say is this is the first time where I have been uncomfortable.”
Later, however, he shared the clip on Instagram under the caption, “Black streamer gets profiled at Ninja Ramen York, PA.”
As the video spread, Kent attempted to clarify his position.
“To be clear, I am not stating as fact that the restaurant profiled me,” he wrote. “This post reflects my personal experience and how I felt during the interaction. I am not trying to attack the restaurant or encourage harassment. I’m simply sharing a moment from my day that was captured on stream and discussing why it left me feeling uncomfortable.”
The owner of Ninja Ramen subsequently responded in the comments section of the video, offering a different account of the incident.
“Hello, I am the owner of Ninja Ramen. I have conducted a thorough review of the incident with my staff,” the statement began.
According to the owner, Kent initially entered the restaurant asking whether he could take photographs without dining. The owner said the staff replied, “Of course, please feel free to take photos, and let me know if you need anything.”
The owner explained that employees later assumed Kent was resting after taking pictures and denied any racial motive.
“As an Asian-owned restaurant, we welcome all guests and would never discriminate against anyone based on their skin color or race,” the owner wrote. “We are already working very hard to keep our restaurant running, and this is not the way we want to become known.”
The incident arrives amid a separate online debate over Black-Asian consumer relations. Pastor Jamal Bryant recently floated the possibility of a broader boycott of Asian-owned businesses after a separate viral video featured an Asian content creator mocking Black consumers and daring them to withdraw their spending power.
“Welp you heard it from them … they said they don’t need our money and that we can’t survive without them!” Bryant wrote on Threads. “Yall wanna test his theory?”
