The $5,000 mystery restaurant tip has been solved. Â Speculation has been swirling this week as to whether the tip, left at a Washington D.C. Ruth’s Crist steak house was from “Duck Dynasty” star Willie Roberton or Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
The two had been dining at the restaurant with several members of Congress after the State of the Union, closing the restaurant down at 2 a.m. instead of the posted 10:30 p.m.
An independent news report verified this week that Hannity paid the tab and left the tip. News reports stated that Willie Robertson and his wife, Korie, enjoyed dinner with some major political leaders, on the night of the State of the Union address.
In attendance were Sean Hannity, Senator Ted Cruz, Mark Levin, and Newt Gingich and his wife, Callista.
Duck Dynasty television show star Willie Robertson (C) and his wife Korie pose for a picture with U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) before the State of the Union speech at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 28, 2014
However, the reports differed over the identity of the generous tipper. The bill at the steak house was $5,000. The website TMZ claims that Robertson paid the bill and left the $5,000 tip to the two waiters. However, an inside source told TVNewser, that Sean Hannity paid the bill and tip. “Hannity knows from service industry work: during college he worked as a dishwasher, bartender and short order cook.”
Plenty of pictures flooded social media outlets, to support the fact that Willie was with the congressmen and senators on the night of the 2014 State of the Union address. They were guests of Vance McAllister and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
The Robertsons were evidently a big celebrity attraction at the State of the Union address, as seen through photos posted by politicians and other attendees on social media. Over one dozen congressmen and senators posted photos of them standing next to the reality show couple, including Rep. Steve Stockman, Rep. Martha Roby, Sen. David Vitter, Rep. Jeff Duncan, Rep. Steve Scalise, Rep. Thomas Massie, and Rep. Alan Nunnelee, among others.
The Robertsons were able to attend the 2014 State of the Union address as guests of Vance McAllister (R-Swartz) and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Hannity also tweeted a photo of himself with the Robertsons and other guests at their post-speech dinner with the caption “Great time at dinner.”
NBC political correspondent Kelly O’Donnell said during a live airing of the event that the Robertsons brought “a real celebrity feeling” to the political gathering, showing how “pop culture and political life collide.” Willie Robertson wore his classic outfit of an American flag bandana and blazer to Tuesday evening’s event, while his wife Korie opted for a conservative outfit that included a green skirt, black boots, black blouse and white jacket.