BBB warns customers about online Atlanta food personality

write-up

Darius Williams, aka Darius Cooks, appeared in a Cobb County courtroom around a dispute with one of his critics.

ATLANTA – The Improved Company Bureau of Metro Atlanta issued a warning about doing company with a superstar on-line chef primarily based in Georgia.

In accordance to the BBB, more than 70 shoppers of Darius Cooks complained they paid out for cookbooks, cookware or tickets to his Eating with Darius cooking functions but did not get the merchandise.

And they say he disregarded their requests for refunds.

“BBB advises individuals to use caution when performing enterprise with DariusCooks, LLC,” the nonprofit firm warned. The statement also pointed out that none of the grievances ended up ever answered.

“Respectfully, I really do not treatment,” Williams advised the FOX 5 I-Crew when requested about the BBB warning.

DariusCooks, LLC was administratively dissolved in 2019 for “failing to file annual registration and/or failure to maintain a registered agent or registered business office in this state,” according to the Georgia Secretary of Condition.

Darius Cooks is the skilled identify made use of by Darius Williams, a self-taught cook who designed an on the net existence for what he said are tens of millions of followers across the nation.

Some followers complain the movie star chef under no circumstances despatched their product or service but kept their revenue, his very own reverse edition of dine and dash.

“He advised me the write-up place of work hadn’t sent out the package but,” explained Sherrica Blackmon of Minot, North Dakota. The military services mom ordered a cookbook following acquiring an before a single with no any challenges.

“But when I referred to as the publish office environment they instructed me they hadn’t gained the bundle nevertheless,” she described. “All he did was print out a transport label.”

She reported she uncovered other individuals on Williams’ social media web pages with similar complaints.

So she extra her reviews.

“And when I did that he blocked me on social media,” she explained.

It took a connect with to her financial institution ahead of Sherrica Blackmon last but not least acquired the cookbook she requested from Darius Williams. He disregarded her BBB complaint alongside with extra than 70 other people.

Blackmon reported it at last took disputing the charge with her bank to get Williams to provide that second cookbook, months after she complained to the BBB.

“Even with all the proof bordering him that many people today are experiencing the very same thing, there are still people that are defending him, upholding him and his trash habits,” she reported.

What form of trash behavior?

Williams posts multiple occasions a working day on Instagram, Fb and Twitter, frequently going live.

When some critics wrote unfavorable responses on people social media internet pages, Williams would reply by creating general public their private information and facts and stimulate his faithful followers to fire again.

It’s in some cases known as doxing or trolling.

Williams posted images of one critic’s younger little ones. Another — Melenese Ford of Atlanta — reported she was bombarded with detest-crammed texts, phone calls and opinions from Darius Cooks fanatics.

“The man or woman who named me and threatened me and my dad and mom, she did not know us,” Ford said in an job interview in March. “She did it solely based on her… odd attachment to this person.”

Melenese Ford (R) did not get a probability to testify in this hearing. She would like Williams to spend her legal service fees. He desires a long-lasting restraining get.

Ford and Williams faced off in a Cobb County courtroom this 7 days. She required Williams to pay her legal service fees for a momentary restraining buy he submitted. She experienced demonstrated up at a Sandy Springs barber store just after he are living-streamed his check out there. When Williams came outside, he observed a T-shirt with the terms “Endlessly Trouble” remaining on his auto.

Williams claimed he was in concern for his existence and referred to as police. Ford did, also.

“I experienced to have my melancholy and panic treatment greater soon after this incident happened,” Williams testified.

“He’s now in affordable panic for his basic safety that this female is subsequent him,” additional his attorney Robert Nothdurft.

But the listening to that was intended to decide whether or not Williams really should get a long lasting restraining order turned into a debate about no matter whether he’s actually the a person carrying out the harassing.

“The history, the path that follows Mr. Williams is rife with lies, with fraud, with harassment, with bullying,” Ford’s attorney Will Davis instructed the decide. “He needs to get clicks. He loves interest. This team of women that adhere to him enjoy the drama. And so does he.”

He requested Williams if he understood the definition of trolling.

“Trolling is… producing enjoyment of someone or finding on somebody,” Williams answered.

Ford didn’t get a possibility to testify prior to the hearing was prolonged to a further working day. The choose stated he would rule immediately after that.

Meantime, that chef’s special — trolling — appears to still be on the menu.

“And so you are indicating you do not troll people today on-line?” Davis requested Williams in court docket.

“Not with out reason,” he answered.