Restaurant Denies Charging Twitch Streamer $12,000 After QR Code Prank

A streamer's dinner in Japan spiraled into chaos after viewers used the restaurant's QR code to place prank orders.

Restaurant Disputes Twitch Streamer Lacys Supposed 12k Bill
Zauo Shibuya has disputed Lacy's claims that he was left with a nearly $12k bill. | © Lacy via Twitch

A Japanese restaurant has pushed back against Twitch streamer Lacy's claims that he was left with a nearly $12,000 bill after viewers exploited a QR code during his livestream.

The incident took place on October 28, when Lacy was livestreaming from Japan alongside his girlfriend, Darla Claire. During their visit to Zauo Shibuya, a restaurant located in Tokyo, the streamer accidentally revealed the QR code used to order food at their table.

Viewers quickly took advantage of the situation, placing numerous unwanted orders through the restaurant's digital ordering system.

Restaurant Sets the Record Straight

Lacy initially claimed the situation had resulted in a bill totaling approximately 1.6 million yen, or nearly $12,000. Frustrated by the prank, he explained that he had offered to cover the cost and suggested giving the unwanted food to other families rather than letting it go to waste.

However, the restaurant subsequently disputed his account of the payment. In a statement shared on social media, Zauo Shibuya acknowledged that unauthorized orders had been placed through its system. The restaurant also denied charging customers for food they hadn't actually ordered or consumed.

According to the translated statement, restaurant staff "check each customer and their order contents, and only account for the product that they actually eat."

They admitted that they initially "couldn't tell that it was a prank order," and proceeded to make the orders. However, they discarded the items after discovering the orders weren't legitimate. The restaurant did not disclose the exact amount Lacy ultimately paid.

Lacy Admits He Got the Story Wrong

Following the backlash, Lacy addressed the controversy on X, explaining that a language barrier initially led him to believe he was responsible for the $12,000 bill.

He admitted that he was "frustrated" after leaving the restaurant, so he "started talking and trolling about it on stream like an idiot." It was only after this that Lacy discovered that he only had to pay for the additional food that had already been prepared.

The streamer also apologized for failing to correct the story sooner, saying he never intended for the restaurant to receive hate. "None of this was their [the restaurant's] fault, it was the people who sent the orders in and mine," Lacy added.

Ivan Shahran

Gamer, writer and night owl. Big nerd about indie movies and music. I write about mobile gaming and eSports but also manage the socials....