An influencer is taking major heat for a two-word comment in a coffee shop review.
A few days ago, Tiana Lauren (@tianalauren) reviewed Palomino Coffee in East Austin.
She had good and bad things to say about the shop. No one seemed to take much issue with that portion of her review.
Instead, they zeroed in on her description of East Austin: “Not gonna lie, the surrounding area is super sketchy.”
“Super sketchy” sent people over the edge. As of this writing, her post has 710,000 views and over 1,900 comments. Most of the comments appear to be from people who take major umbrage with her description of East Austin.
An Austin neighborhood in flux
East Austin was once a predominantly Black neighborhood. Local outlet KVUE reports that over the years, the demographics have shifted. Today, the outlet states that less than 10% of the population is Black.
The neighborhood is one of many historically majority-Black places that have changed significantly due to gentrification.
Gentrification entails wealthier people moving into economically disadvantaged areas and ultimately displacing long-term residents. Often, those displaced are the persons of color and immigrants who were once the majority.
This is what makes gentrification controversial. The neighborhood may have “improved” in some eyes, but in others, it’s lost its heart: its people.
Two words create a firestorm
Austinites did not take kindly to Lauren calling East Austin “super sketchy.”
“Out of curiosity did you just move here?” one wrote.
Another joked that there are great coffee shops at the airport.
“Austin influencers are ruining Austin,” a third said.
An Austin-based TikToker posted a reaction video mocking Lauren. “Come with me while I go try a coffee at a place that isn’t 100% gentrified,” she says. “And then I say it’s sketchy because regular people live there and it’s not totally like taken over.”
Many specifically take issue with the portion of Lauren’s TikTok where she calls East Austin “super sketchy.” In it, she uses a clip of graffiti disparaging President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
“If I saw that specific graffiti I would feel safe but to each their own ig,” one wrote.
“That graffiti is a major green flag. Seems like a cool af area to me,” said another.
It seems most of Austin TikTok has united against the influencer.
“I’m honestly scared for her now. Like she’s going to walk out on the street. But she should’ve been scared in the first place clicking send on that post,” a TikToker said.
@tianalauren come with me to try out Palomino Coffee in Austin, TX #atxcoffeeshops #atx #atxcoffee ♬ Club Penguin Pizza Parlor – Cozy Penguin
Lauren responds
In a TikTok direct message to the Mary Sue, Lauren said her comment was in reference to a “semi-abandoned shopping center” where she was filming.
“While I personally didn’t feel unsafe there during the day, the environment—vacant buildings and general neglect—could reasonably be perceived by many as unsafe, especially outside of daylight hours,” Lauren said. “That’s what I meant when I described it as ‘super sketchy.'”
She said she stands by her comment as it was an “honest reflection” of where she was. “Not as a judgment of the entire neighborhood or its community,” she added.
Lauren said the backlash has been intense, receiving hate comments and threatening messages that have been “overtly racist.”
“For the record, I do not support gentrification. I understand the deep harm it can cause, especially to historically marginalized communities,” Lauren continued. “But when cities undergo development without addressing the root causes of inequality and disinvestment, it often results in uneven conditions—sometimes including public safety concerns.”
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