US, Mar 14 : Former J. J. Watt triggered a major online conversation after raising a question about tipping practices at self-service restaurants in the United States. The former Houston Texans defensive end shared a scenario on X that many customers encounter regularly, prompting thousands of responses and millions of views within hours.
In his post, Watt described a typical dining situation where customers order at the counter, choose their own seating and collect their food when notified by a buzzer. Despite the limited interaction with staff, he pointed out that digital payment screens still prompt customers to leave a tip, often displaying options such as 20, 25 or 30 percent, with a default amount already selected.
The athlete asked followers what they would do when faced with that prompt. His question quickly went viral, with users sharing a wide range of opinions about whether tipping should apply in fully self-service settings.
Some respondents argued that tipping remains important because service industry workers often rely on it for income. Others said customers should not feel obligated to tip when they perform most of the service tasks themselves. Watt later clarified in the discussion that he had tipped in the situation but raised the question because there were no traditional servers involved.
The debate drew reactions from several public figures. Cameraman Kirby Hilderbrand shared a rule he follows when dining out, suggesting that customers should avoid tipping when they stand at the counter to place an order. Meanwhile, commentator Jason Whitlock argued that tipping should still be practiced out of gratitude, recommending around 15 percent or more for regular visits.
The conversation reflects a broader national debate over tipping culture. According to a survey by WalletHub, more than 80 percent of Americans believe tipping practices have become excessive, while a significant number say the system should be reformed or even eliminated.