A viral video on TikTok shows rats at a Washington DC Popeyes restaurant. The video has caused the restaurant to shut down.

The viral TikTok video was first posted by user blaqazzrick01, who says in the video that he delivers chicken to Popeyes restaurants in the Washington D.C. area. He took viewers behind the scenes to show the numerous rats scurrying around the kitchen of one of the restaurants. Be forewarned that the video contains graphic language.

According to WTOP News, the video was recorded in Barracks Row on 8th Street Southeast in Washington D.C., and the Health Department has now closed the restaurant down. A DC council member was tagged on Twitter with the TikTok video.

You can search DC restaurant inspection reports here.

People praised the TikTok user on his comment thread.

“Not all heroes wear capes. Thanks for doing your part to make dining in DC safer,” wrote one.

“And now I’m done with Popeyes,” wrote another. “Thank you for sharing this. I truly hope you don’t get fired tho.”

Another person commented that the Popeyes was on “restaurant row.”

“Dang. I know Disney is pressed for sequels rn, but I wasn’t ready for Ratatouille pt. II.”

“Wow! This is a prime example why I rather cook at home.”

Asked whether he got fired, the user told people on his comment thread that he doesn’t work for Popeyes.

“Way more common in the bigger cities where the stores are interconnected on one block… thanks for reminding me to just cook at home.”

“Thank you for serving the community! You deserve a promotion and hazardous pay lol.”

A Popeyes near the Eastern Market area of Washington, DC shut down earlier this week after a video emerged showing rats swarming the kitchen, Fox News reported.

The video was posted to TikTok about two weeks before the store closure on Thursday. In the clip, a man who goes by the name @blaqazzrick01 and claims to deliver raw chicken to Popeyes restaurants in the DC area, takes viewers inside the location and says, “y’all want to see something?”

He then proceeds to open the doors and walk into the kitchen, where several rats are darting around and scurrying up the walls.

“You still love that chicken from Popeyes?” the man says.

The video has been shared thousands of times since being posted on October 11.

Popeyes did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

A notice posted by DC Health on the closed restaurant’s door read: “This establishment is ordered closed until further notice for a violation(s) of the district of Columbia food code regulations which presents an imminent health hazard(s) to the public.”

There have been at least seven complaints of violations filed at six Popeye’s restaurants in the district this year, excluding the latest incident, according to DC Health records.

Other fast-food establishments around the country have made headlines over hygiene-related incidents this year.

Earlier this month, a Subway franchise worker in Rhode Island filmed himself stamping on sandwich fillings and placing them on a toilet seat. The company said he had been fired after the videos emerged.

In August, a Burgerville branch in Portland temporarily closed after the company said it found human excrement on its premises.

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