A Nashville influencer, known online as “Chud the Builder,” was arrested after an affidavit alleges he refused to pay nearly $400 at a steakhouse.
A Nashville influencer’s night out turned into a police incident after an arrest affidavit alleged he refused to pay a nearly $400 restaurant bill.
Dalton Eatherly, 28, who posts online under the name “Chud the Builder,” was arrested on Saturday, May 9, following the report that he bought food at Bob’s Steak and Chop and did not pay for it. The affidavit says the meal he ordered totaled $371.55.
According to the affidavit. Eatherly is a content creator who films material in public spaces. including what the report described as racially charged content on Broadway.. The restaurant asked him not to live-stream or disrupt the dining experience. after which staff reportedly realized he was live-streaming despite the request.
After ordering two full entrees, along with drinks and appetizers, the restaurant later concluded he had created problems during service. The affidavit states that when he was asked to stop the live-streaming, he became disruptive and began making racial statements.
The arrest paperwork also describes an escalation: Eatherly reportedly yelled and screamed, drew attention from others in the restaurant, and appeared to create a scene. It was during that time, the affidavit alleges, that he made statements about not paying for his food.
The affidavit further claims Eatherly intended to deprive or withhold payment, and that he otherwise refused to make a payment for the meal he consumed at the restaurant. Prosecutors later charged him with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and theft of services.
Eatherly was booked on a bond totaling $5,000. For many restaurant workers, incidents involving filming and live-streaming can raise complicated questions about guest privacy, business operations, and what counts as disruptive behavior, especially when customers are asked to follow specific rules.
The case also highlights the tension that can develop between social media visibility and public etiquette.. When livestreaming crosses into the workspace of others—such as interfering with service or prompting confrontations—what begins as content creation can quickly escalate into a situation law enforcement may treat as more than a disagreement.
If the allegations are proven. the charges could carry consequences beyond the immediate arrest. including penalties tied to disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.. Even when creators believe they are simply documenting their day. the legal system often looks closely at intent. behavior in the moment. and whether staff requests were followed.
For now, the details in the affidavit frame an account centered on unpaid service, alleged disruption inside the restaurant, and escalating statements that reportedly shifted the situation from a request about livestreaming to a confrontation that ended with arrest.
Nashville influencer arrest Chud the Builder unpaid restaurant bill theft of services disorderly conduct resisting arrest Bob’s Steak and Chop