A Detroit Popeyes restaurant has been temporarily shut down after a viral video surfaced online showing a rat crawling over trays of fried chicken inside the store’s food display case. The shocking footage, which has amassed millions of views across TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), has sparked outrage, disgust, and a full-blown investigation by local health officials.
The video, originally posted by a customer who said she was waiting for her order, shows a rat climbing over freshly cooked chicken pieces in the restaurant’s heated display area. The clip is both stomach-turning and surreal — at one point, the rodent appears to sniff and nibble at the food while employees remain unaware. The sound of the customer gasping in disbelief only amplifies the horror.
“I thought I was seeing things,” said one woman who recorded the footage. “But when I got closer, I realized it was a rat just walking across the chicken like it owned the place.”
Within hours of the video going viral, the Detroit Health Department stepped in and ordered the location to close immediately pending a full sanitation inspection. Popeyes’ corporate office also released a statement condemning the incident and confirming that the on-duty manager had been terminated.
“The cleanliness and safety of our restaurants are our top priorities,” the company said in its statement. “The franchisee operating this location has been instructed to deep-clean and sanitize the entire facility and will not reopen until it passes a full health inspection.”
Social media erupted with reactions ranging from disgust to disbelief. “This just ruined Popeyes for me,” one user commented on TikTok. Another wrote, “That rat was eating good… right before I lost my appetite.” Memes and jokes quickly followed, but many viewers expressed concern for the employees and the restaurant’s reputation.
According to local news outlets, health inspectors found “evidence of rodent activity” and “serious food safety violations” during their follow-up visit. The restaurant was ordered to dispose of all food items, deep-clean every surface, and seal all possible entry points before any chance of reopening.
The fired on-duty manager, who allegedly failed to enforce closing procedures the night before, became the center of controversy. In interviews, former employees suggested that pest issues had been reported multiple times but were not taken seriously. “We told them there were signs of rats, but nobody listened,” said one ex-worker anonymously.
For now, the Popeyes location remains closed, with a large notice from the Detroit Health Department plastered on its front door. Residents in the area say the incident has shaken their trust. “It’s one thing to hear about this stuff online,” said a customer who lives nearby. “It’s another thing to know it happened right here.”
As cleanup continues and corporate officials scramble to restore public confidence, one thing is clear — this Detroit Popeyes’ reputation may take far longer to recover than it takes to cook a batch of fried chicken.
