Tips About Tips: LeBron Not Such a Jerk After All?

by Cleveland Frowns on June 9, 2008

So LeBron James might not be such a bad tipper, or such a jerk, after all. About a month ago we linked to this Deadspin post that discussed this Cleveland Scene item that reported that LeBron left a $10 tip on an $800 bill at Cleveland’s XO Steakhouse after eating and drinking there with a group of folks until approximately 4AM.

Last week we came across this letter to the editor by Davey Houston of Lakewood on Page 5 of the June 4-10 issue of Cleveland Scene, in response to the Scene piece about the alleged incident.Houston’s letter reads, in part:

 ”You’re taking LeBron to task for a misunderstanding. Didn’t anyone see the report on Channel 19 that said the b*tchy little crybaby server looked at the bill wrong and was actually left a very generous tip?”

No, we didn’t see the report on Channel 19, and we cant find any evidence of it on the Channel 19 Action News website or anywhere else. Has anyone out there seen this report? A quick Google search of “LeBron bad tipper” brings up a number of published items about this alleged incident, none friendly to James. LeBron has taken a lot of heat for this, and as much fun as it is for us to believe that anyone richer or more famous than we are must be a jerk, if Mr. Houston’s letter is accurate, the King’s good name should be restored.

How couldn’t LeBron know how bad it would be for his image to tip so poorly, anyway? He must eat out a lot. Why haven’t we heard a story like this before?

A statement by one of LeBron’s representatives to the New York Post’s Page Six corroborates Houston’s account. James’ rep said that “[t]here was a misreading of the receipt, and the appropriate tip was provided.”  As evidence of the hit that LeBron’s image has taken from this story, this quote was spun in the New York Post item, titled “Needs Glasses,” to mean that it was LeBron who misread the receipt.

Under normal circumstances, one letter to the editor referring to a news report that we can’t find much evidence of (yet) wouldn’t be a very big deal.  But there wasn’t much behind this story in the first place. It was based on an anonymous tip, yet it proliferated quickly and widely, with damaging effect to LeBron.  We have emails and calls in to Channel 19’s sports and news directors, and will follow up if/when we hear from them. In the meantime, please share any info you might have on this in the comments, or via email.

Update 6/9/08, 1:12PM: We just got an email from Ryan Minnaugh of the Channel 19 Sports Department who confirmed that a story about LeBron’s XO tip did run on 19 Action News, and was able to forward an excerpt from the copy from the story that ran on 19 Action News. The excerpt reads as follows:

“BUT JUST THIS AFTERNOON, THE RESTAURANT MANAGER RELEASED A STATEMENT. HE’S CALLING THE WHOLE THING A “MISUNDERSTANDING”. SAYING, THE WAITER MUST HAVE SEEN THE WRONG TIP AMOUNT ON THE RECEIPT. LEBRON REPORTEDLY SENT AN EVEN BIGGER TIP, TO CLEAR THE WHOLE THING UP.” 

Of course this could be a case of XO’s management protecting the reputation of a good customer.

Update 6/10/08, 6:55AM: From TMZ.com, a more complete statement from XO Steakhouse management about the tipping incident:

“For the record, XO would like to clear up a misunderstanding resulting from a story that appeared in the Cleveland Scene on May 7th…Upon completion of his meal, Mr. James paid his bill with a credit card. Our waiter mistakenly read the receipt, inferring that Mr. James had left him only a $10 tip. To clear up the misunderstanding, Mr. James arranged for an appropriate tip to be delivered to the restaurant for the waiter.”

  • smittypop2

    I am clearly one of the biggest Lebron supporters in the world, but I have heard many times that he is awful tipper. These stories were circulating from high school until now and had nothing to do with that (non)isolated incident. I don’t know if he did or didn’t tip appropriately that night, but people who have served him at various local establishments have earmarked him as someone who leaves little or no tips. I know he is a smart guy and honestly thing he is a decent person so I don’t really hold it against him. I would imagine he just really never learned about tipping and what you see is what you get. I would also imagine that things will change now that this story has been much publicized. He and his crew were in the valley this weekend so I will look into the tipping and get back to you on that. Hope this helps out.

  • Ben

    he went to lannings once and tipped almost nothing

  • Anonymous

    My wife served him, and two others people a couple years ago. 150 dollar bill, 5 dollar tip

  • Anonymous

    Black people don’t tip, just the way it is.

  • Zak
  • Eagle in Brighton

    Crybaby and bad tipper? Now that is an all star-combination.

  • Michael Beckwith

    Who gives a shit. Who gives a fuck.

    I just want a championship.

  • Anonymous

    Is it any wonder why waiters and such don’t want to serve tables filled with black people? Its not racial – its economics…

    I watched one time as 12 members of a certain football team rack up what had to be close to 2500 dollars worth of food and drink.

    When the bill came out they paid and promptly left. And I wish I was kidding when I say this… the waiter came out… grabbed the bill… walked back to the back room and screamed “ARE YOU F-ING KIDDING ME… NO TIP? NO TIP? NO F-ING TIP?”

    When he finally emerged – everybody else (all white mind you)… came to his rescue with additional gratuity… but its very true…

    Black people are cheap and don’t tip.

  • Anonymous

    coloreds don’t tip well.

  • Anonymous

    be careful with blanket statements, they often reveal more about you than you know. black people DO tip. the same way that some white people don’t. many people (regardless of their skin tone) were never taught the proper way to tip, and THAT is the only fact in the whole story. everything else is just speculation.

  • Anonymous

    how about if everyone just decided not to tip all at once. it would make all your meals 15% cheaper.

    • 12345

      no it wouldnt! As soon as resturants had to pay the differance between the $2 an hour they pay their staff and and min wage your meals would instantly jump about 30% or more. The only reason your meal is as Cheap as it is, and seems to jump in cost even slower than the product needed to make it is because labor cost are so low for them.

      Also for everyone who gets mad at the “black people don’t tip” comment’s, It may not be PC to say and of corse there will be some exceptions (heck there are alwase some suprises with tippers) but the stereotype is around for a reason!

      Before you get mad at any waiter/bartender stereotyping do your self a favor and wait tables for a year or two. That way you dont sound like an idiot when you get your pantys in a wad over what is common knowledge to any waiter.

  • dylan

    not tipping is awful. I have worked for tips, you are making 2 bucks an hour and when you get stiffed it really burns. Leborn knows he should tip, he also knows how much, to assume otherwise demeans his intelligence, I am of the mindset he is an asshole. I too have heard multiple reports of his $5 on $200 bill or .50 cents on a $49.50 bill at Applebees. The thing at XO didn’t surprise in the least.

  • Winston B. Mcpotsworthy

    When it comes to tipping, defending racial accusation illustrates your break from reality. Ask any waiter you know…

    If we all stopped tipping… you are aware that the people who you tip are the very same people that handle your food, right? Cardinal food of waiting: don’t fuck with the food handlers. Cheap asshole. That’s their livelihood.

  • Ken

    I know a guy that works at the Tryst night club in the Wynn hotel in Vegas. When the USA basketball team was in Vegas a couple years ago for training, LeBron, Wade and several other went there and stayed all night. Apparently, they racked up a several thousand dollar tab, which LeBron picked up. His total tip: $100.

    On a side side note, he also said DWade was the only one that looked good that night. Everyone else was out in white tees, completely under-dressed and not up to dress code at all. He said LeBron was one of the worst.

  • Anonymous

    I always tip a minimum of 20% at a restaurant, but I think tipping has gotten out of hand. Why should I tip at Starbucks?! And, if the service at a restaurant is crappy, I’m supposed to still tip a minimum of 15% so I can supplement the income of the waiters! Pay your employees a living wage!

  • KBilly

    Lebron James: I’m very sorry the government taxes their tips, that’s fucked up. That ain’t my fault. It would seem to me that waitresses are one of the many groups the government fucks in the ass on a regular basis. Look, if you ask me to sign something that says the government shouldn’t do that, I’ll sign it, put it to a vote, I’ll vote for it, but what I won’t do is play ball. And as for this non-college bullshit I got two words for that: learn to fuckin’ type, ’cause if you’re expecting me to help out with the rent you’re in for a big fuckin’ surprise.

  • Joel

    Like the site, like the name and the masthead.

    But are you against spaces between sentences?

  • Anonymous

    Who cares. Maybe the waiter was horrible and deserved the $10. That’s $10 more than what he had before. Hell, I’d rather have LeBron tip me a dollar with his signature and I’ll be set. I HATE BOSTON!!!! BOSTON BLOWS!!!!

    • 12345

      your an idiot! You cant keep the Credit Card reciept. also Even if the waiter sucked, he kept the staff there untill 4 in the morning!!! Not to mention that at most resturants they waiters have to pay a % of their total sales in a “tipshare”; meaning that usually 3-5% of the waiters total sales are paid to the hostest, bartender, and bussers. So his $10 tip may have cost the waiter up to $40…… no waiter “deserves” to pay for a shitty customer!

  • Anonymous

    who knew the best athlete in the world would also be Jewish?

  • Anonymous

    I was in the bar business for 12 years and worked at a wide variety of establishments. As a whole, black people and women are notoriously bad tippers. That statement obviously doesn't apply to all black people or all women but does apply far more often than not. Incidentally, I am a woman and a darn good tipper to boot!

  • dm

    The restaurant industry should not get a pazz on this. Because THEY pay slave wages, they gonna flip the script and put the burden on the customer to make up the wage difference ? I don’t think so.
    What this is basically saying is that menu prices are 20% less than they should be, because the customer has to make up the difference via the tips. Blame your employer for paying you slave wages or get another job. Or mark up the price of food – it might keep the riff raff out of restaurants.

  • Kimberly

    I know for a fact that lebron james isn't educated enough to know the proper manner in tipping, He tipped $5 ib $80 tab not to mention all the drinks management comped for him. His tip should of been automatically added on. He should just eat and dring at home if he can't figure out 20% for gosh sakes. guess he doesn't understand someone trying to make a living.

    • Have to love you too

      What are you saying about the public school system of Ohio?

  • petepuma699

    It seems most places I eat, if the party is that big, the tip is automatically added to the bill. Could it be that he assumes this and the seemingly small tip is meant to be above and beyond? Not saying that this is the case, just something to consider.

  • lau

    Lebron can only multiply in 1s, 2s and 3s (percent that is).. he is not the only sports star that doesn't tip well, its a known fact in the Vegas community, but he is the self proclaimed "KING" when it comes to under tipping. Nike, Reebok, Adidas and all those money hungry agents should give these cultural idiots an ethics course!

  • guest

    In this day and age most places already add 15% to the bill if you have more than five people eating, so are these tips on top of the 15%? I always tip from 25% to 50% depending on my server’s attitude, but if I’m forced to have my tip included for me to my bill, so be it and you get what you asked for.

Previous post:

Next post: