The retired NFL star just wanted to ask a simple question about restaurant etiquette. The internet had other plans.
J.J. Watt, 36, sparked one of the wildest debates on X this week when the former Houston Texans defensive end posted what he called a “genuine question on a restaurant situation” on March 11.
Within 24 hours, the post had racked up nearly four million views — and the replies were absolutely chaotic.
Here’s the setup: Watt described going to a self-serve restaurant where he ordered his own food, found his own table, seated himself and filled his own drink.
He was handed a buzzer at the counter and picked up his food by himself once the buzzer went off. When he went to pay, he was dealt a decision.
“The iPad has a ‘20%, 25%, 30%, Other’ tip option, with 20% already preselected,” he continued. “What’s your move?”
J.J. Watt’s Relatable Scenario Divides the InternetIt didn’t take long for the internet to do what it does best. Within minutes, the opinions were running rampant.
One user wrote on X: “I tip simply because I know that servers live in poverty. With your vast wealth you should do so also.”
Watt fired back. I tipped. Obviously. But there are no servers in this situation, which is why I asked the question. It was fully self-service,” the former NFL player wrote in a reply.
Another user argued that people should tip “if you can afford it” because “generosity shouldn’t require exemplary service.”
Others took a more measured stance, saying people should tip what is recommended “if you like the restaurant and the people you are interacting with are helpful and pleasant.”
The debate even pulled in some big names with big opinions. Sports columnist Jason Whitlock, who used to write for the Kansas City Star, urged Watt to tip because he’s “been incredibly blessed.”
“This is a great question with no perfect answer. Here’s why you should tip,” Whitlock wrote. “A mindset of gratitude is why you should tip. 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.”
Not Everyone Believes in Today’s Tipping EtiquetteThe anti-tip crowd brought their A-game to this thread.
“Friend told me ‘if you stand to order, do not tip.’ Followed that mantra ever since,” one user wrote.
Another user went after the economics of the whole thing: “The tipping is for ‘servers’ who make $2.19/hr. Not a counter clerk making ~$12/hr period. Stop the guilt.”
And then came what might be the single best reply in the entire thread: “If you seat yourself and serve yourself, you should get a 20% discount,” a third user quipped.
Someone put that on a mug.
What the Data Says About Tipping EtiquetteWatt’s post didn’t just resonate with sports fans. He tapped into something millions of Americans are already stressed about: the creeping expansion of tipping culture beyond traditional sit-down dining.
A September 2025 survey by Popmenu found that 65% of consumers are fed up with tipping, up from 60% in 2024 and 53% in 2023.
Around 72% of U.S. adults say tipping is expected in more places today than it was five years ago, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey.
Nonetheless, according to AARP, an 18-20% tip is customary at full-service restaurants, up from 15% a few years ago. That distinction — full-service — is exactly the point Watt was making. When you’re doing all the work yourself, do the old rules still apply?
Needless to say, Watt tipped and it appears a lot of other people would’ve too.
