Applebee's controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Applebee’s customer database exposure disclosed
Issue disclosure
TechCrunch reported that a hardcoded credential in Applebee’s Android app allowed access to customer personal information in an internal database. Applebee’s said it had addressed the security issue. Dine Brands said its investigation had not found evidence of unauthorized access and that the investigation was ongoing.
Company response
Remediation — Applebee’s
Applebee’s has fixed a security flaw that allowed anyone to access the personal information of its registered customers
Investigation — Dine Brands
Our investigation is ongoing, and we will take appropriate steps based on our findings
Source excerpt
Our investigation is ongoing, and we will take appropriate steps based on our findings
Applebee’s has fixed a security flaw that allowed anyone to access the personal information of its registered customers, after a researcher found a password for an internal database inside Applebee’s mobile app
The exposed database contained customer names, email addresses (including whether or not the customer verified their email), dates of birth, phone numbers, and ZIP codes.
2013
Receipt and waitress dismissal controversy
Applebee's received substantial online criticism after dismissing a waitress who posted a customer's receipt containing a rude note objecting to a required gratuity. The company's response was also criticized, extending the controversy beyond the original employment decision.