If you’ve spent any time on social media over the last several months, then you no doubt have seen multiple viral videos of “Mr. Tendernism” –a.k.a. Walter Johnson, the Black man who serves as the “unofficial-official” mascot for popular Southern California BBQ spot Destination Smokehouse. But what you haven’t seen is a collaboration between Johnson and popular online food critic Keith Lee, and now we may know why.
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In a recent video posted to his TikTok and Instagram, Lee did his usual food review at the aforementioned restaurant and explained that he and his family discreetly pulled up to finally try the BBQ. While he ordered and sampled the brisket, yams, mac’n cheese, coleslaw, beef ribs and oxtails–one of his other main goals was to finally meet and support Johnson, whom he affectionately called “Unc.” Noting that Johnson was inside the building, Lee said that he was surrounded by at least four bodyguards, which he understood given his newfound social media fame.
Yet and still that wasn’t enough to deter Lee or his family so they attempted to meet Johnson after they got done eating. Unfortunately for them, their efforts were unsuccessful as Lee later told his fans and followers that they couldn’t even get in to see him. He also shared that he was going to give him $4,000 as a blessing but nobody in connection to Johnson or the restaurant took it.
“We could not get to Unc. Security said he was done for the day; he was filming something. I believe he was filming a podcast. We had $4,000 in cash they didn’t take,” Lee said.
As a result, he resolved to just giving the money out to different patrons coming to Destination Smokehouse. He also went on to praise Johnson for bringing his authentic self to his work and making people love him.
“Not only in my opinion is it extremely hard to get people engaged like that, to show your true personality, to be yourself, no matter how fast things take off in this space,” Lee said. I don’t think he intended for it to go the way it’s going. I think he just wanted to show his love for food and his love of what it is that he is doing.”
While Lee was able to turn the incident into a positive, others in the comments couldn’t help but crack some jokes about how Johnson missed his blessing and how the moment could’ve been special.
“I just KNOW Unc finna cuss some people out when he see this video,” wrote one user on TikTok.
“There’s no way they said Keith Lee outside and he said no,” said another.
One other user wrote, “I’d be mad as hell if I found out Keith Lee came looking for me and yall told him no I’m cursing everyone out! Reschedule!”
Added another person: “Unc’s entourage blocking his blessings.”
Check out the ordeal below.
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