05/05/2026
I am deeply hurt and disturbed by what I watched regarding the incident at Percy & Willie’s in Florence, South Carolina involving food critic Ben A-critic.
Whether someone calls him a “hood food critic,” a content creator, or simply a man reviewing food, what I have seen of him has always shown someone who is respectful, polite, and fair — even when he does not like the food. He did not deserve to be treated with hostility, humiliation, or intimidation.
What made this even more painful is knowing the history of South Carolina and the history of how police have been used against Black people in this country. Calling the police on a Black man who is not being violent, threatening, or disrespectful is not a small thing. It carries a history. It carries danger. It carries the weight of knowing that situations like that can escalate quickly and tragically.
That is why this hurts so much.
Percy & Willie’s is a place many of us have known, visited, supported, and spent money in over the years. To see something like this happen there is disappointing and heartbreaking. It makes people wonder how they truly feel about the Black community that has supported them.
What makes this even more ironic is that Percy & Willie’s had reportedly been closed and recently reopened. For many of us, this is the first time we have heard their name in years. A reopening should have been a moment of welcome, gratitude, and community connection. Instead, this has become their reintroduction to the public — and unfortunately, it is one connected to hurt, disappointment, and serious questions about how Black people are treated in that space.
This is not about wanting to destroy a business. It is about accountability. It is about respect. It is about recognizing that Black customers, Black creators, and Black community members deserve dignity wherever we go.
In 2026, we should not still be watching situations where a Black man simply doing his job is treated like a threat.
Florence deserves better. South Carolina deserves better. Our community deserves better.
-a-critic
