A man has gone viral after boldly declaring he’s done with tipping—and his reasoning has sparked a heated debate.
Tipping culture in the U.S. has always been a hot topic. Many servers rely on tips just to make ends meet, while customers are often expected to tip on everything from restaurant meals to takeout orders. In fact, according to Restaurant Business Online, 98% of diners leave a tip, with the national average now at 19.7%. On top of that, the typical American is asked to tip up to five times a week.
But Dustin Anderson (@therealdustinanderson) has had enough. In a now-viral TikTok video, he declared:
“I’m not tipping anymore—I’m done, I’m out!”
@therealdustinanderson #tips ♬ original sound – therealdustinanderson
Why? He Says Tipping Has Lost Its Meaning
According to Dustin, tipping used to be a reward for exceptional service. Now? He claims it’s just expected—no matter the quality of service.
“When’s the last time you had truly exceptional service? They just hand you the bill and expect you to fill in 20%, 25%—like, no! You did your job. You brought my food, you refilled my drink. That’s it. Why am I tipping for that?”
He insists he’s not against fair pay for workers. He just wants restaurants to be upfront about pricing.
“If you own a restaurant, just tell me what it costs. I don’t want people to struggle—I want waitstaff to make a living. But don’t make me feel guilty for not tipping when I’m already paying for my food!”
Viewers Are Divided
His rant hit a nerve, with thousands weighing in. Some fully agreed, sharing their own frustrations:
💬 “You’re so right! I pick up my own takeout, and they still ask for a tip. What am I tipping for?”
💬 “I work in an ER saving lives, and I don’t get tipped. So yeah, I’m done too.”
💬 “We need to be like Europe. Just pay workers a decent wage!”
Others weren’t having it, especially those in the service industry:
💬 “Servers don’t even make minimum wage. If you don’t want to tip, don’t eat out.”
💬 “I make $3.13 an hour. Without tips, I can’t survive.”
So, what’s the real issue? Should restaurants eliminate tipping and pay fair wages instead? Or is tipping too deeply ingrained in American culture to change?
What do you think—should tipping stay or go? Let us know in the comments!
