US Waffle House cook's rap praising chain topped 1 mn TikTok views; weeks later, he was fired

Edric Riley, known to Waffle House customers and co-workers as Rockstar Riley, became an online sensation after a rap song celebrating the restaurant chain went viral. His song 'Waffy Options' crossed more than 1 million views on TikTok and received hundreds of thousands of views and shares on Instagram.But weeks after the song brought him popularity, his long association with Waffle House came to an end. Riley said he was fired from a restaurant in Sandy Springs, Georgia, on Friday after the company found that he had repeatedly broken its rules on filming promotional content on company property, Atlanta News first reported.Riley had worked at Waffle House on and off since he was a teenager. He told CBS News in July that he had been with the company for 20 years and had worked in several roles.

His connection with the restaurant began when he was just 15.“I tried calling everyone. I couldn't get a ride, but I knew no matter what, I wanted that job,” Riley said. He recalled riding five miles on his mother’s bike to get to the restaurant after trying for eight months to get hired.“I'd been trying for eight months. So I got my mom's bike, put on some shorts and a T-shirt, grabbed my little sister's pink iPod Nano, loaded it with music and rode five miles.

I've been rocking out at Waffle House ever since.”That long relationship later became the subject of the music Riley created about the chain. The project eventually reached a much bigger audience, with one song becoming particularly popular online.

‘Waffy Options’ becomes viral hit

Riley said he wrote his first Waffle House song in September 2025. He recorded it in January and released it around February or March.“Waffy Options” was inspired by the restaurant, its food and the experience of working there.

In the video that spread online, Riley appeared in his Waffle House uniform and performed behind the counter while customers and staff watched.The song praised the chain’s menu and its reputation for staying open when other restaurants are closed. Riley also encouraged people to visit their local Waffle House.His stage name, Rockstar Riley, became familiar to customers and co-workers, while another nickname, the “King of Waffle House”, appeared in coverage of his online success.The attention grew quickly. CBS News reported in July that Waffy Options had received more than 1 million TikTok views, along with hundreds of thousands of views and shares on Instagram.At the time, Riley had hoped the songs could become part of the restaurant experience. He wanted “Waffy Options” and his other tracks to be played on Waffle House jukeboxes across the chain’s more than 2,000 locations.“Please, everyone, keep going to Waffle House and tell them how much you love the music and the food,” Riley said in July.

“Tell them you want to hear 'Waffy Options' and all the other great Waffle House songs on the jukebox.”

Company says Riley broke rules

Riley was fired on Friday from a Waffle House location in Sandy Springs. Waffle House said the decision was based on repeated violations of its policy against unauthorised filming of promotional media content on company property.“Waffle House ended its employment relationship with Mr. Riley following repeated violations of company policy prohibiting unauthorized filming of promotional media content on company property,” the company said in a statement to Atlanta News First.Waffle House said it supports employees who pursue creative work outside their jobs. However, it said company property cannot be used for personal promotion, commercial gain or brand monetisation without permission.The company said management had spoken to Riley several times about the policy and warned him that further violations could result in termination.According to Waffle House, Riley later filmed a music video in a restaurant parking lot without permission.

The company said he brought a production crew, lighting and backup dancers for the shoot.“Candidly, we did everything we could to help him keep his job, but because of these repeated policy violations, he left us no choice,” Waffle House said.

Riley says he was promoting restaurant

Riley has disputed the way the policy was applied and said he was disappointed by the decision. He said his music was created out of his love for both his work and his art. He also questioned whether the company's policy had been enforced equally.“I’m not out here taking purses, I’m not out here selling drugs. I’m just out here promoting the company that I worked for for 20 years in the most positive light,” Riley said. “You have a policy, so if you’re going to enforce it, it’s supposed to be enforced on everyone.”Riley said the firing was especially difficult because Waffle House had been his first job as a teenager. He had previously described the restaurant as a place where he had spent much of his working life.Despite losing his job, Riley said he would still be interested in working with Waffle House if the opportunity came. “I’m not going to lie, if that opportunity came, I would love to do it hands down,” Riley said. “I love Waffle House.”

Riley turns to music after firing

Following his termination, Riley said music producers and artists had contacted him about possible collaborations. He has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with living expenses and studio time while he pursues music full time.In the fundraiser, Riley said he had given Waffle House years of “loyalty, hard work, and dedication”. He also said he believed his viral video had helped bring attention to the chain.“Instead of feeling supported or appreciated, I was let go. After everything I poured into that job, this has been painful, disappointing, and honestly hard to process,” he wrote in the fundraiser. The campaign had raised more than $1,700, according to the New York Post.