Latest news with #BryanArnett
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
In-N-Out Burger takes on bizarre threat to its popular brand
In-N-Out Burger was the first drive-thru hamburger stand in California when it opened its doors in 1948. Today, the menu is largely the same, although its famous Double-Double burger was not added to the menu until 1963. In-N-Out has a huge following, with fans loving its "secret" menu, including Animal Style burgers cooked in mustard with extra spread, pickles, and grilled onions. And speculation abounds regarding what's in the company's special spread. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter With the restaurant looking to expand into new locations in 2025 and build upon its great success, it needs to do everything possible to protect the strong brand it has built. That's why it is now taking on a surprising threat to its rock-solid company reputation. In-N-Out is known for affordable prices, fresh ingredients, and consistent quality, and obviously it wants to maintain that reputation and avoid scandals. That's why the company is taking aggressive action after some disturbing videos went viral recently. Specifically, Bryan Arnett, a content creator with over 600,000 followers on Instagram and YouTube, has published some videos that upset In-N-Out Burger. Related: Costco lawsuit unveils major issue with warehouse club stores The latest of those videos was uploaded on April 25 and showed Arnett impersonating an In-N-Out employee at a Glendale location. Arnett went to the location when it was closed on Easter and talked with customers who had pulled up to the restaurant to order food. The customers didn't know that they were being pranked – they just thought they were ordering. Arnett was dressed up as an In-N-Out employee, and while he pretended to take real orders, he offered fake menu items to some customers, said offensive things to others, and pretended a cockroach was found in one customer's order. This is not Arnett's first prank against In-N-Out, as he previously put up a fake Employee of the Month poster and tried to pay with pennies for random orders made by other customers. Unsurprisingly, In-N-Out isn't thrilled about having a fake employee offending real customers, and then posting the video to cause confusion about whether it was actually a real worker saying these offensive things and finding bugs in the food. The company has decided it has had enough and has filed a lawsuit against Arnett. In-N-Out claims that the creator "falsely" represented the company and that Arnett's "lewd, unsettling, and bizarre" videos constituted defamatory content. The lawsuit states that the comments "reflected directly and negatively on In-N-Out." Related: Costco faces claims that it tricks customers over prices In-N-Out told the court that it had already sent Arnett a cease-and-desist letter. However, the burger chain wants to recover all of the money he made from his viral videos that pranked the company. If In-N-Out prevails in the lawsuit, Arnett would also be permanently banned from all restaurant locations and held legally liable for proven financial damages that the company suffered as a result of his actions. It remains to be seen how the lawsuit will play out. For now, Arnett has made videos featuring the burger chain private. The creator also posted another private video showing him eating food from the chain in his car and responding to the lawsuit, stating, "I'm not gonna sit here and act surprised. When I went out and filmed the video, I kinda knew what kind of waters I was stepping into." More retail: Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customersTarget makes a change that might scare Walmart, CostcoTop investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brandWalmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers He said that while he was aware that he was "teetering the line a little bit, pushing my luck," he's also not worried about the suit. "Like yeah, sure, it'll probably be annoying or whatever, but whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen." Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
In-N-Out sues YouTube prankster for posing as worker making ‘lewd' and ‘racially insensitive' remarks to customers
Popular fast-food chain In-N-Out is taking legal action against a YouTube prankster who disguised himself as an employee and made 'lewd' and 'racially insensitive' remarks to unsuspecting customers. Bryan Arnett — who has more than 600K followers on YouTube and Instagram — posed as one of the fast food chain's employees at several of its Southern California restaurants on April 25, going as far as to don In-N-Out's iconic white T-shirt, red apron, and paper hat to fool customers, SFGate reported. The social media prankster pulled off the stunt on Easter, when the restaurants were closed, and was seen offering fake menus, making inappropriate comments, and asking uncomfortable personal questions to customers. Advertisement 3 YouTuber Bryan Arnett is being sued by In-N-Out for prank videos he filmed at its locations. United States District Court Central District of California The video, which has since been made private, shows Arnett making comments to unsuspecting diners such as, 'I like watching my wife sleeping with other men. Is that something you'd be interested in?' and that the restaurant is 'only serving gay people.' He also had one of his buddies pretend to be a customer and claim that a cockroach had been found in an order while speaking to a real customer. Later on in the video, he disgustingly pretended that a condom had fallen into a meal, according to SFGate. Advertisement On June 20, In-N-Out filed a lawsuit against Arnett with the United States District Court for falsely representing the company and defaming its brand. '[Arnett] visited multiple In-N-Out locations in Southern California … wearing a fake uniform bearing [In-N-Out] 's trademarks,' the lawsuit, obtained by SFGate, reads. '[Arnett] made lewd, derogatory, and profane remarks, such as stating that In-N-Out had cockroaches and condoms in its food, and that In-N-Out Associates put their feet in lettuce served to customers.' 3 The social media prankster pulled off the stunt on Easter, when the restaurants were closed, and was seen offering fake menus, making inappropriate comments, and asking uncomfortable personal questions to customers. @ Advertisement Arnett also asked customers if they wanted their meal 'doggy style' — a play on the chain's 'animal style' food order option, according to the lawsuit. The YouTuber also allegedly made racist remarks to one customer, asking them if they wanted a 'monkey burger' and telling them it came with a 'damn-near black bun.' The company has called Arnett's stunt and remarks 'defamatory, insulting, racially insensitive, bizarre, and lewd.' They emphasize that his comments were not merely jokes but rather portrayed the restaurant chain in a negative light, harming its well-deserved reputation. Advertisement Arnett has a history of run-ins with In-N-Out management before the chain filed its suit against him. 3 In-N-Out has called Arnett's stunt and remarks 'defamatory, insulting, racially insensitive, bizarre, and lewd.' jetcityimage – The prankster had been previously removed from locations in the past for trying to pay for strangers' orders with pennies and for posting fake 'employee of the month' plaques featuring his own photo in its restaurants. Following the lawsuit, Arnett posted a video on his YouTube channel in response to the legal action, but it has since been put on private. However, the influencer appears to be undeterred by the lawsuit, according to SFGate, which viewed the response video before it was made private. 'I wouldn't say I'm worried about the lawsuit,' Arnett said. 'Like yeah, sure, it'll probably be annoying or whatever, but whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen.' In-N-Out is taking a strong stand against Arnett by seeking a lifetime ban from 418 restaurants nationwide, along with any profits he may have made from his video and possible financial damages.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Bryan Arnett? YouTuber sued by In-N-Out for impersonating employee, making ‘lewd' comments
YouTuber Bryan Arnett has landed in hot water with popular fast-food chain In-N-Out over a recent prank video that went south quite quickly. In a video uploaded to his channel on April 25 this year, Arnett donned an outfit identical to that of an In-N-Out employee and posed as a drive-thru worker at a closed location in Glendale on Easter Sunday. The lewd remarks made by him to unsuspecting customers during the prank have led the popular chain to file a lawsuit against him. YouTuber Bryan Arnett faces a lawsuit from In-N-Out after a prank video featuring lewd remarks went viral.(AFP. YouTube/Bryan Arnett) ALSO READ| Top 10 most-subscribed YouTubers: PewDiePie no longer on the list With over 600,000 followers across YouTube and Instagram, Arnett is a content creator known for frequently making prank videos and uploading them on his platform. He has picked In-N-Out as his playground for pranks in previous videos as well where he hung a fake employee of the month plaque with his photo on the wall of a restaurant and paid his bill in pennies. In his latest antics, Arnett asked customers if they would like their food made 'doggy style', suggested that employees of the chain dip their feet in the lettuce used to make food that was contaminated with condoms and cockroaches, implied that the chain only served food to gay people and asked a customer if they'd like to try the 'monkey burger' which came with a 'damn-near black bun'. The tip of the iceberg came when he asked a customer, 'I like watching my wife sleeping with other men. Is that something you'd be interested in?' The lawsuit The lawsuit was filed on June 20 and accused Arnett of falsely representing the company and defaming its brand with 'lewd, unsettling and bizarre' behavior. A cease-and-desist letter was issued in early May. The suit seeks to ban Arnett from all In-N-Out locations, recoup any earnings made from the video, and pursue damages as applicable. In-N-Out had previously filed a suit against another content creator for similar antics at the chain. 'For over seven decades, we have worked hard to create a welcoming and enjoyable experience for every Customer who visits us. Recently, we have seen an increase in online media personalities who have chosen to play pranks or practical jokes that are designed to embarrass, humiliate, or upset our Customers, their families, and our Associates. These individuals have engaged in behavior that includes deception, trespass, lewdness, and other actions that have then been posted on social media for their personal and monetary gain at the expense of our Customers and the In-N-Out Burger brand,' said In-N-Out Burger Chief Legal & Business Officer Arnie Wensinger in a statement to The Independent. ALSO READ| 'At Home' retail chain to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and close stores? All we know Arnett's response to the lawsuit Arnett responded to the incident with a follow-up video posted on his YouTube days after the lawsuit. The video saw him sitting in his car and chowing down an In-N-Out burger while he was at it. 'When I went out and filmed the video, I kinda knew what kind of waters I was stepping into. I knew I was kinda teetering the line a little bit, pushing my luck. I wouldn't say I'm worried about the lawsuit. Like yeah, sure, it'll probably be annoying or whatever, but whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen,' he said. The prank video as well as the follow-up remarks video published by Arnett have since been switched to private viewing on YouTube. By Stuti Gupta
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
In-N-Out sues YouTuber who dressed up as an employee to film lewd prank
A popular YouTuber has been sued by In-N-Out burger over an 'unsettling and bizarre' prank video where he disguised himself as an employee and made vulgar comments to customers. The 24-year-old YouTube prankster Bryan Arnett shared a video with his 334,000 subscribers in April that showed him posing as an In-N-Out employee. He took orders from unsuspecting customers while slipping in disturbing lines like, 'I like watching my wife sleep with other men,' according to KTLA News. Now, the beloved Southern California fast-food chain has filed a lawsuit against the creator, accusing him of making 'lewd, unsettling, and bizarre' remarks that defamed and tarnished the company's reputation. 'Arnett made lewd, derogatory and profane remarks, such as stating that In-N-Out had cockroaches and condoms in its food, and that In-N-Out Associates put their feet in lettuce served to customers,' the lawsuit alleged, as reported by KTLA. On April 25, Arnett posted a prank video - reportedly filmed on Easter Sunday, when the restaurant was closed - in which he wore the signature red apron, white collared shirt, and paper In-N-Out hat at what appeared to be a Glendale location. In the now-privated video, Arnett lured customers at the drive-thru, pretending to take their orders while handing out fake menus, making inappropriate remarks, and asking uncomfortable questions. In one instance, the lawsuit alleges, the YouTuber crudely asked customers if they wanted their food made 'doggy style' - a filthy twist on the chain's iconic 'animal style' menu options, KTLA reported. He reportedly told one customer that the establishment was 'only serving gay people,' prompting the diner to drive away. To another, he claimed a 'manager' had put his feet in the lettuce being served to customers. In-N-Out accused Arnett of making 'racially insensitive' remarks, including a disturbing moment when he offered a customer a 'monkey burger' - complete with a 'damn-near black bun.' One moment the In-N-Out brand found particularly disturbing, according to SF Gate, was when Arnett bluntly asked a customer, 'I like watching my wife sleep with other men. Is that something you'd be interested in?' At one point in the video, the 24-year-old enlisted the help of an accomplice to stage a fake incident, pretending a cockroach had been found in a customer's order. 'We've had a pretty bad cockroach problem this week,' Arnett told his partner-in-crime in front of a customer placing an order, as reported by SF Gate. Shortly after, the pair pretended a condom had fallen into a customer's meal. The video was uploaded to his YouTube channel on April 25, despite warnings from In-N-Out to take it down for trademark infringement and filming customers without their consent, KTLA reported. The federal lawsuit, filed in Santa Ana on June 20, accuses Arnett of 'falsely representing' the company, as reported by The Los Angeles Times. It also notes that In-N-Out issued a cease-and-desist letter on May 2. The company is now seeking a lifetime ban on Arnett from all of its restaurants, the profits earned from the video and compensation for potential financial damages, according to KTLA. They argued that rather than coming off as jokes, Arnett's 'defamatory, insulting, racially insensitive, bizarre, and lewd' comments tarnished the brand's image and eroded customer trust. 'In-N-Out cares deeply about its customers, the goodwill those customers have for its brand, and the Associates who work tirelessly to uphold that brand by their commitment to ensuring every customer has a positive experience,' the lawsuit states, the LA Times reported. Though the video has since been made private, Arnett appeared unfazed by the fallout, claiming he was 'pushing the boundaries' - a telling detail, since this isn't the first prank he's pulled involving the brand. On Monday, he responded to the lawsuit in a new YouTube video - now also private -while ordering and eating In-N-Out in his car, as reported by SF Gate. 'I'm not gonna sit here and act surprised,' Arnett said. 'When I went out and filmed the video, I kind of knew what kind of waters I was stepping into.' 'I knew I was kind of teetering the line a little bit, pushing my luck,' he added. 'I wouldn't say I'm worried about the lawsuit. Like yeah, sure, it'll probably be annoying or whatever, but whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen.' In a previous video Arnett uploaded - now private - he was kicked out of an In-N-Out by management after attempting to pay for a stranger's order using only pennies, SF Gate reported. In another video, he meticulously placed a fake 'Employee of the Month' plaque on the wall of one of the restaurant's dining rooms.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
In-N-Out Burger sues YouTuber who it says posed as an employee
In-N-Out Burger is suing a popular YouTuber who it says posed as an employee of the burger chain and filmed his interactions with customers, later posting the videos online. The lawsuit, filed in district court in central California, alleges that internet personality Bryan Arnett impersonated an In-N-Out worker by wearing a fake uniform bearing the company's trademarked branding. He duped customers into believing he represented the brand in order to damage its reputation, the complaint claims. Arnett filmed himself engaging with customers as he made "lewd, derogatory and profane remarks," In-N-Out Burger states in the suit. For example, while impersonating an employee, he led customers to believe that the company's food contained cockroaches and condoms, the restaurant chain alleges. He also told customers that restaurant associates "put their feet in lettuce served to customers," the lawsuit claims. Arnett did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch's request for comment. In-N-Out, which was launched in 1948 and is based in Irvine, California, owns and operates restaurants in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Texas. In-N-Out is suing Arnett for alleged trademark infringement and business defamation, and is seeking to ban Arnett from its establishments. It also wants to require that he remove online posts and videos that refer to In-N-Out. The company is suing for damages and any profits he might have made from his videos. The prank videos have since been removed from Arnett's public YouTube channel and are no longer viewable online. Arnett has roughly 334,000 YouTube subscribers and shares videos online on a range of topics. In one video, for example, he tested Planet Fitness' policy that lets premium members work out as long as they want by spending 24 hours at the gym.
