Viral Restaurant Video: Zendhy Kusuma Speaks Out — The Real Incident Was Not As Shown on Social Media

Public figure guitarist Zendhy Kusuma has finally issued a clarification regarding a video of an incident at a restaurant that went viral on social media. He acknowledged that on the night of the incident his emotions were provoked, but argued that the event escalated far beyond the actual occurrence after CCTV footage circulated on social media, triggering various public reactions, including cyberbullying in the digital space. According to Zendhy, the incident began from an uncomfortable situation when he and his family waited a long time for their order at the restaurant in September last year. ‘I did not close my eyes to the fact that night my emotions were provoked, and there was behaviour that could have been conveyed in a better way,’ Zendhy said on Saturday (7 March). He explained that they waited quite long for an order that never arrived. In a state of hunger and exhaustion, the situation made the atmosphere uncomfortable. However, according to Zendhy, the actual incident, which involved a dispute between a customer and the restaurant, changed drastically after CCTV clips circulated widely on social media. Zendhy said that since the video went viral, he and his family have faced various pressures in the digital space, from negative comments and the spread of personal information to cyberbullying. ‘What we regret is that the incident developed far beyond the actual event. After the video circulated, we and our family experienced various forms of cyberbullying on social media,’ he said. He hopes the public can see that the footage circulating on social media does not provide a full picture of the entire event that night. According to Zendhy, the video clips were accompanied by additional narration that did not fully reflect the actual situation, creating a misleading impression and triggering various accusations in the digital space. ‘We believe every incident should be considered in full and based on facts. When a video snippet is accompanied by incomplete narration, it can lead to misunderstandings that harm many people,’ he said. Zendhy added there are other recordings showing a different version from what circulated online. In those recordings he can be seen arriving with the intention of resolving the matter amicably, including when he intended to settle the payment. However, in that situation the response from the other party was not constructive, making the atmosphere even more uncomfortable. This shows the incident was not as simple as the video snippet circulating on social media. Zendhy emphasised that after the incident he continued to try to settle the matter directly with the restaurant. ‘I returned to apologise in person and to settle the payment. My hope is simple: this issue could be resolved amicably without becoming a major controversy,’ he said. Zendhy also said the matter is currently before the courts and he fully respects the ongoing proceedings. ‘I believe the legal process will view the entire event in full and objectively,’ he said. Through this clarification, Zendhy also urged the public to view the incident more wisely and to take it as a joint lesson. ‘Perhaps we can all learn from this: how to be better consumers, how to be wiser business owners in dealing with customers, and how to be netizens who do not easily engage in cyberbullying,’ he said. He hopes the digital space can become a healthier place where matters are not instantly condemned as mass condemnation of someone or their family. ‘Ultimately we are all human and can make mistakes. The important thing is how we learn and improve without tearing each other apart in the digital space,’ he concluded. (H-2) The owner of Bibi Kelinci restaurant in Kemang, South Jakarta, Nabilah O’Brien, described being named as a suspect by the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) as highly odd.