Fans Riot After Red Lobster Officially Files For Bankruptcy

Red Lobster officially files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, fans react. ABOVE: Red Lobster restaurant in New York City.

Red Lobster officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and fans of the chain feel pretty salty over it.

The restaurant previously hinted that it was having financial troubles last month, which sparked some fury amongst those who love the brand, its Cheddar Bay Biscuits and endless shrimp promotions, so it's no surprise its most recent filing triggered an onslaught of even more intense reactions.

On Monday, the nationwide seafood restaurant said it had more than $1 billion in debt and less than $30 million in cash on hand. The May 20 report further explained the company plans to sell its business to its lenders for financing to help it manage the rough patch.

In the wake of the news, Red Lobster's loyal fans have shared desperate pleas online to inspire investors and would-be customers to help keep the casual dining restaurant afloat.

"How is this possible," one X (formerly Twitter) user declared.

Another reposted the article alongside a gif of Steve Carell as Michael Scott in The Office shouting, "No God please! No! No! No!"

"Beyoncé has the opportunity to do the funniest thing," a third said of the pop icon's shoutout to the brand in her hit “Formation,” during which she described going on a date to Red Lobster that, in turn, caused sales to surge.

Similarly, a different social media user joked: "We need the Formation remix to save the biscuits!"

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"A devastating day in culinary history," another wrote. "Need to go get some cheddar bay biscuits while I still can."

"For anyone who ever asked 'how do they make money off this' when ordering endless shrimp, They don’t," someone else quipped.

Oh, but the memes and viral reactions didn't end there. Continue scrolling for more of our favorites:

Though the seafood joint has already closed nearly 100 locations across the U.S., the company confirmed the remaining restaurants will remain open and operating as usual during the Chapter 11 process.

Red Lobster officials explained in its notice that the company has been "working with vendors to ensure that operations are unaffected and has received a $100 million debtor-in-possession financing commitment from its existing lenders."

"This restructuring is the best path forward for Red Lobster. It allows us to address several financial and operational challenges and emerge stronger and re-focused on our growth," CEO Jonathan Tibus said in a statement. "The support we've received from our lenders and vendors will help ensure that we can complete the sale process quickly and efficiently while remaining focused on our employees and guests."

As for what fans of its ready-to-make Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix can expect, how the filing will affect its retail market remains unclear.

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