ST. LOUIS (AP) — The note at the top of a restaurant receipt reads simply, "I give God 10%, why do you get 18?"

The scribbled comment left at a St. Louis Applebee's set off viral mayhem. The waitress who posted it online was fired, and the customer who wrote it vilified.

The customer who described herself on the receipt as a pastor shared appetizers with eight or nine friends on Jan. 25. The group was large enough that an automatic 18 % tip was added to the bill.

The customer paid the tip, but the snarky note prompted another waitress to post a photo of the receipt on the website Reddit. She was fired.

Applebee's President Mike Archer said Friday that customers deserve privacy and the note violated the company's social media policy.