NFL legend JJ Watt ignited a fierce social media debate about the culture of tipping in the United States.
The iconic Houston Texans defensive end, who also owns a minority stake in Premier League club Burnley, posed a ‘genuine question’ about how customers should act in ‘self-service’ restaurants.
‘You walk up to a counter to order… you find your own table and seat yourself,’ Watt wrote on social media. ‘If you order coffee, they hand you a cup and you go fill it up yourself. If you order food, they hand you a buzzer and when it goes off, you go pick it up yourself.’
‘The iPad has a “20%, 25%, 30%, Other” tip option, with 20% already preselected. What’s your move?’
At the time of writing, Watt’s post had drawn more than four million views and 16,000 replies, with fans divided over the issue.
‘I tip simply because I know that servers live in poverty. With your vast wealth you should do so also,’ one told Watt, who is believed to have earned nearly $130million during his NFL career.
NFL legend JJ Watt sparked a fierce social media debate about tipping culture in the US
At the time of writing, Watt’s post had drawn more than four million views and 16,000 replies
The NFL star responded: ‘I tipped. Obviously. But there are no servers in this situation, which is why I asked the question. It was fully self-service.’
Others revealed rules that they live by in restaurants. ‘[A] friend told me “if you stand to order, do not tip.” Followed that mantra ever since,’ Emmy-Award winning cameraman Kirby Hilderbrand said.
Controversial columnist and podcaster Jason Whitlock was also among those to insist that Watt should tip in that scenario.
Despite admitting there was ‘no perfect answer,’ Whitlock argued that Watt had been ‘incredibly blessed’ in his professional and personal life.
‘You had great parents, family members, friends, coaches and teammates who poured into you with no expectation of anything in return. You have healthy children. A mindset of gratitude is why you should tip,’ he argued.
‘It’s an opportunity to say thank you to God by sharing a tiny bit of your good fortune. I think a 15 percent tip is appropriate. If it’s a place you go regularly, leave 20 percent.’
But according to a recent survey by WalletHub, more than 80 percent of Americans believe tipping culture is ‘out of control.’ More than two in five people think tips should be banned.
