Renowned fast-food chain In-N-Out is pursuing legal measures against a YouTube prankster who pretended to be an employee, making inappropriate and racially offensive comments to unsuspecting patrons.
Bryan Arnett, who boasts over 600,000 followers on both YouTube and Instagram, impersonated an In-N-Out employee at several Southern California locations on April 25. He went to the extent of wearing the chain’s recognizable white T-shirt, red apron, and paper hat to deceive customers, as reported by SFGate.
The prank took place on Easter, when the restaurants were closed, during which the social media provocateur was seen distributing fake menus, making unsuitable remarks, and posing intrusive personal inquiries to the customers.
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.
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.”
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.
Arnett has a history of run-ins with In-N-Out management before the chain filed its suit against him.
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.
