Austin’s viral café refused to pay an old artist until hordes of customers pulled up with proof
'Why would I pay when you do this?'
People are entitled to be paid for their work, but some workers still face exploitation through unpaid dues. When a woman posted a video of a new cafe in Austin, Caroline Adel (@stinkypumpkin.512) quickly called out the coffee shop's owner, who had failed to compensate her old mother for all the art she had rendered on their wall. Sharing the update on December 10, the post has created great furore on Instagram.
On Instagram, Caroline Adel (@stinkypumpkin.512) called out an Austin cafe named A-Hole Coffee for allegedly failing to pay her mother, Jane, who was commissioned to create artwork for the shop. The cafe is known for serving coffee through a hole in a large wall. Caroline claimed that her mother designed and completed the entire artwork for the A-Hole Coffee location situated within the Pickleball courts. She stated that despite completing the work, Jane had been subjected to unfair delays and mistreatment. "She has not been paid for the work that she designed, executed and completed. He (the owner) capitalizes on the pay, and we need justice for her. Do not go to A-Hole Coffee," she said.
Caroline later posted screenshots of the conversations between Jane and the owner that showed Jane requesting full payment by October. They had agreed on a total of $21,500, and the owner still owed her $9,000. As per the contract, she was supposed to be paid after the project's completion on September 16. The owner later claimed that Jane's "math was wrong" and said he could pay her "$6,500 for the extras for a total of $20,000." Jane responded by attaching the invoice and stating that his calculations were incorrect. Despite repeated follow-ups, the owner did not acknowledge her messages or release the remaining payment. However, after Caroline's video gained attention, he responded saying, "Why would I pay when you do this? I was planning on paying you this week and then I see this."
Following the backlash, A-Hole Coffee's social media team issued a statement distancing their business from the ongoing dispute. According to them, the artwork was commissioned by their landlord, not the coffee truck. "The owners of the property are not the owners of the coffee truck. The artist involved has never worked for A-Hole Coffee, has no contract or agreement with A-Hole Coffee, and we were not part of that project in any way," their statement read. Although online users remain confused about the entire ordeal, the artist is expected to share an update soon. Be as it may, given that the person in question used her video to deny payment further, the situation has rubbed viewers the wrong way, with several customers pulling up to the location demanding compensation for Jane.
A 2025 report by Thompson and Skrabanek highlighted the New York City Freelance Isn't Free Act, which protects creatives and freelancers across the United States. According to the Freelancers Union, the law requires hiring parties to pay freelancers by the date stated in the contract or, if no date is specified, within 30 days of completing the work. The Freelancers Union also explains that failing to pay on time, or failing to pay at all, can result in statutory penalties including double damages, attorney's fees, and protection from retaliation. By failing to pay Jane for her work, the individual responsible could potentially be sued in court.
Following Caroline's viral video, many users reacted to the situation. @yuhgirlfran wrote, "Oooh commented on their profile and then got blocked. someone’s guilty." @hollyshepperd commented, "Their account turned comments off… that's telling." @neferttitistewart shared, "Right now they're claiming you're lying on their page so I suggest doing the video there with your mom so they have no excuse."
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