In 2021 alone, Better Business Bureau listed over 30 complaints against chef Darius Williams’ company, DariusCooks. The numerous complaints speak of products that weren’t shipped, products sent to the wrong address without a refund, and no reimbursement for events canceled due to COVID-19.

However, the real reason behind Williams’ controversy and #dariuscrooks staying viral is a laundry list of alleged scams, scandals, lawsuits, and bankruptcies. On Aug. 21, 2021, Angela Davis, a.k.a. The Kitchenista, posted on Twitter a then-current record of allegations and lawsuits against Williams.

Controversies involving Williams have been around for the past two years, per a Feb. 2020 Instagram post. In it, Williams is accused of not giving his workers time to recover after a robbery, framing them for overcharging his followers’ credit cards, and having managers pay for food supplies themselves.

The controversy reached new levels in June 2021 when one Instagram user brought up the Better Business Bureau records and alleged that Williams plagiarized The Kitchenista. Another post also spoke of accusations that Williams assaulted a female server in 2019 after refusing to pay her.

Southern Grit Magazine wrote of all the incidents in late June 2021, to which Williams refused to comment. However, judging by the steady stream of new content and engagement on his social media, Williams still seems to have a fanbase despite the scandals.