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Cheesesteak Tossed: Influencer Charged in Philly
4 Oct
Summary
- Man charged with harassment for throwing cheesesteak at employee.
- Incident occurred at the legendary Pat's King of Steaks.
- Alleged attacker was reportedly filming for social media.
A man faces charges of harassment following an incident at the historic Pat's King of Steaks in Philadelphia. The man, reportedly a food influencer, allegedly threw a cheesesteak at the face of restaurant general manager Tom Francano before fleeing the scene. The PPD confirmed officers responded to the assault report on September 30, 2026.
Security footage showed the suspect filming his visit to Pat's King of Steaks, an establishment in business since 1930. According to reports, the suspect first tore the sandwich apart by hand before confronting Francano, calling the food 'garbage,' and then throwing it.
Francano, who has worked at the restaurant for approximately 50 years, stated he was unharmed but angered by the event. Restaurant owner Frank Olivieri suggested the attack may have been motivated by a desire for social media attention. Police have withheld the suspect's name.
