2 Chainz is facing heavy backlash online after claiming that celebrities have earned the right to skip lines and receive special treatment, but food critic Keith Lee did not agree.
The two disagreed during an appearance on Den of Kings, where the Atlanta rapper confronted Lee about his unfavorable review of Esco Restaurant & Tapas.
“I saw you do my restaurant,” 2 Chainz said, acknowledging that Lee was entitled to his opinion. But the conversation soon turned into a disagreement over how fame affects customer service.
Lee explained that he once sent his mother-in-law to 10 Atlanta restaurants, where she struggled to get served.
“I go in table ready right now,” he said, recalling the massive difference when he visited personally.
2 Chainz confronts Keith Lee over restaurant reviews, Debates that celebrities deserve special treatment: “If I go in, if you, 2 Chainz, go in, you’re going to have a completely different experience than if my mama go in… because they’re not who other people think they are here. Specifically, the experience was completely different once my face was shown. I send my mother-in-law to 10 different restaurants, couldn’t eat nowhere. I go in, table ready right now. I don’t ever want to put nobody in a situation that they get a different experience only because they not Keith Lee.” (Den Of Kings / YouTube) https://t.co/5KfWCTmzLJ
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) November 2, 2026
The critic argued that ordinary customers deserve the same hospitality, especially when they travel and spend their hard-earned money based on his recommendations.
2 Chainz disagreed with the idea that celebrity privileges were inherently unfair.
“I’m an entertainer, and obviously we get perks that other people don’t get,” he said. “I don’t do none of that because I done worked my a– off to do this.”
The rapper also questioned whether Lee’s experience as a professional MMA fighter affected his palate.
Lee, who said his athletic career introduced him to nutrition and cooking, stood by his approach.
“You ask me to come get my opinion, but then you get upset because my opinion is not what you wanted to hear,” he responded.
After the episode, fans reacted, slamming the rapper as “classist” and rejecting his claims that he had “earned the right” to be treated better than regular customers.
Watch the fan reactions below.
2 Chains should’ve took all that salt he throwing at Keith Lee and put it on the fried chicken at his restaurant.
— Tati (@mariahfushimi) November 2, 2026
Keith said I don’t just pull up to random spots I get invited lol 2 chains gotta take that criticism cause clearly somebody invited him to his restaurant
— Spank Horton (@SpankHorton) November 2, 2026
I sat here and listened to this whole thing and 2 Chainz sounds like a fool. It’s not “bs” that Keith Lee reviews restaurants based on the experience that REGULAR customers get because that’s the experience that someone watching his content will get.. That’s the entire point. Celebrities getting special treatment and perks is a stupid standard to base review of a business off of, if regular people wouldn’t experience that at all.
— Deucey (@KrossedUp) November 1, 2026
He definitely tried to minimize Keith Lee influence while also being worried about it. I hate it bc I like Chainz but that’s crazy. Typical Atlanta restaurant owner
— Thick Saban (@RaveenTheDream) November 2, 2026
Mr.Chimetime criticized his restaurant as well. And he didn’t hold back lol The only celebrity owned restaurant in ATL he gave a positive review was Bow Wow Whoever advised 2 Chainz to go after Keith Lee gave really bad advice lol https://t.co/TTuP9sDfW6
— P. Against The World (@chillin662) November 2, 2026