‘Deep fried disgrace’: Inside the Whataburger controversy in ‘The Hunting Wives’

If you’re a Charlotte-area resident who has watched “The Hunting Wives” on Netflix, you’ve probably seen a few places you recognize. But a subtle choice from the show’s directors has some North Carolina residents fuming.

Note: For those who haven’t finished the show, don’t worry. There are no spoilers ahead.

About 41 minutes into the second episode of the show that is currently #1 on Netflix, a scene begins with an outside shot of a beloved local restaurant, Mooresville’s What-A-Burger.

But then, a few seconds later, it cuts to an inside shot of Abby — wearing an orange polo shirt with the name “Whataburger” and a black baseball cap with the signature orange “W” logo of the Texas-based chain.

For the average viewer, the change doesn’t mean anything. The show’s crew likely saw the name of an existing restaurant in their filming location was similar to a chain in Texas, so they took advantage of the opportunity.

But to some North Carolinians, it’s blasphemous. They’re not the same, and they want you to know it.

The controversy can best be summed up by a Facebook post from The State You’re In, a page that highlights attractions in North Carolina, which called the move a “deep fried disgrace” to the Tar Heel State.

Though even locals get the names confused, the locally owned North Carolina What-A-Burger locations are not associated with Whataburger, the Texas franchise. However, the names are so similar that last year, the chain sued some of the local restaurants for trademark infringement.

“This ain’t just a continuity error, y’all. This is Texas propaganda. Plain and simple,” the post reads after emphasizing that though the employee in the show takes and order for a”patty melt with white gravy,” white gravy is not on the menu at Mooresville’s What-A-Burger.

“Let’s get a few things straight:,” the post continues. “North Carolina’s What-A-Burger has been slingin’ Witch Doctors and crinkle fries since before most of these Netflix execs were in diapers.

“We invented Cherry Lemon Sundrop. That’s chemistry, not just a drink.

“A Witch Doctor ain’t a spell, it’s a fizzy soda mix with pickles, and yes, we drink it proudly.

“So, to the fine folks at Netflix: you can mix up your drama, your timeline, and your lip gloss shades, but don’t you dare mix up our What-A-Burger with that other one that comes in a box and thinks Texas toast is a personality. This is North Carolina. We know our burgers, and we absolutely know the difference between a side of white gravy and a legacy. Oh, and beef ain’t BBQ.”

The post was shared nearly 200 times and received 100 comments, with most agreeing with the original poster.

“The original What-A-Burger was hijacked for this show!” one person commented.

“Netflix has about as much respect for NC as we do for Netflix. They can’t even learn geography,” another wrote.

Whataburger chain expands in the Charlotte area

To make matters more confusing, the Texas-based Whataburger chain is opening at least 10 locations in the Charlotte area, including in Mooresville, CharlotteFive previously reported.

Getting miffed over a fictional show may seem like an overreaction, but as the Facebook poster said, Mooresville’s What-A-Burger is a “beloved, battle-worn North Carolina treasure.”

There aren’t too many places where you can get a burger, hot dog, fries, onion rings and hush puppies for a reasonable price – except for Cook Out, which is also based in North Carolina.

And as someone who grew up in the Lake Norman area, I can’t say I’ve ever had a “Witch Doctor,” but as a lover of sugary drinks and brined cucumbers, I wouldn’t refuse if someone offered me one.

And that Cherry Lemon Sun Drop? I never had it at Mooresville’s What-A-Burger, but I remember going to the old Cashion’s Quik Stop in Huntersville to get Sun Drop slushies after church. My eyes may have been a bit bigger than my stomach back then, but they were always the perfect reward for an 8-year-old sitting on a hard pew for an entire hour-and-a-half sermon.

I’m not mad at the show’s creators. It probably wasn’t their intention to take a North Carolina staple and turn it into a cheap knock-off. And the show is based in Texas, so it makes sense they would use their homegrown branding.

But in North Carolina, gravy doesn’t go on burgers — it goes on biscuits.

Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte area.

This story was originally published July 31, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.