It may be too early to call The Great Food Truck Race’s most hated team, but Bug & Bear’s Cannoli is already making a strong case for the title.

Episode 3 of The Great Food Truck Race left viewers divided over the competition, but one moment quickly became the center of attention: the captain of Bug & Bear’s Cannoli appeared to deliberately steer potential customers away from another food truck—even though the two teams had been working as allies. He did not exactly steal customers from the other truck, but his tactics effectively disrupted a line that was already forming, leaving viewers questioning just how far the competition should go.

The reaction online was immediate. On Reddit, viewers openly criticized the team’s behavior, with some saying they hoped Bug & Bear’s Cannoli would be eliminated as soon as possible. One viewer questioned whether it was already “too early” to hate the cannoli truck, before pointing out that its captain was not simply competing for customers but appeared to be intentionally sending people toward another truck instead.

Another commenter was even harsher, arguing that deceiving other teams—even within an alliance—to undermine customers they had already attracted was difficult to defend.

The controversy has turned what might otherwise have been a routine strategic move into one of the episode’s biggest talking points.

Did Bug & Bear’s Cannoli cross the line?

Food truck competitions are built around strategy. Teams are expected to find the best locations, attract as many customers as possible and make difficult decisions under pressure. But viewers appear to have drawn a line between aggressive competition and deliberately interfering with another team’s business.

That distinction became especially important in Episode 3.

According to the discussion surrounding the episode, Bug & Bear’s Cannoli’s captain used a loudspeaker and his presence around the competing trucks to influence where customers went. Rather than simply trying to convince customers to visit his own truck, viewers felt that he was actively discouraging people from patronizing another team.

For some fans, that was enough to turn strategic gameplay into something much more personal.

One Reddit user bluntly wrote that they hoped the “cannoli truck” would be eliminated, criticizing the team for showing disrespect toward other trucks by telling potential customers not to visit them and disparaging their food. Reddit discussion on Episode 3

Another viewer described the behavior as particularly frustrating because the teams were operating within an alliance. In their view, deliberately undermining another truck that was already part of the group made the move even more difficult to accept.

And that is perhaps why the backlash has been so intense: fans weren’t simply reacting to a team trying to win. They were reacting to what they perceived as a lack of sportsmanship.

Viewers are already picking sides

Interestingly, the criticism of Bug & Bear’s Cannoli has come alongside plenty of praise for other teams.

The episode’s three-location customer challenge received positive reactions from several viewers, with some saying the current season feels much more entertaining than the previous one. One commenter admitted that they had previously watched the show almost out of obligation but were now genuinely enjoying the season.

The funnel-cake team, in particular, appears to have emerged as a fan favorite.

Viewers repeatedly praised their energy and enthusiasm, with one fan saying the funnel-cake sellers “always make me smile.” Another joked about the hilarious image of the cannoli bear wearing a shirt featuring funnel cakes.

That contrast has only made the backlash toward Bug & Bear’s Cannoli more noticeable.

While one team is being celebrated for bringing fun and positive energy to the competition, the cannoli truck is increasingly being associated with confrontation and questionable strategy.

The episode also sparked criticism over the competition itself

Not every complaint was directed at Bug & Bear’s Cannoli.

Some viewers questioned the structure of the challenges, particularly the sweet-versus-savory theme, arguing that the concept did not seem to have much impact on what the teams actually had to do.

Others were frustrated by the alliance mechanics, especially the fact that teams could seemingly switch sides depending on what benefited them.

Food prices also became a talking point. One viewer pushed back against the idea that a $21 meal could reasonably be described as an inexpensive lunch for college students.

And then there was the food itself.

Some fans questioned whether certain dishes were creative enough to justify their place in the competition. One viewer compared Waffledilla’s waffle-on-a-stick concept unfavorably with more elaborate offerings such as fried lasagna and funnel cake with salmon.

Another commenter complained that one truck appeared to be relying heavily on burger-and-cheese combinations and pre-purchased sausage while other teams were doing considerably more cooking.

Still, none of those complaints generated quite the same emotional reaction as the controversy surrounding Bug & Bear’s Cannoli.

For now, the cannoli truck remains the team fans love to hate

The irony is that reality television thrives on exactly this kind of reaction.

A team that annoys viewers can become one of the biggest storylines of a season, particularly when fans begin watching not only to see who wins, but also to see whether the controversial team finally gets eliminated.

That appears to be happening with Bug & Bear’s Cannoli.

The team may have viewed its actions as smart competitive strategy, but the online reaction suggests that many viewers saw something very different: an unnecessary attempt to sabotage another truck’s customer traffic.

Whether the team eventually pays the price for that strategy remains to be seen. But after Episode 3, one thing is already clear—the cannoli truck has attracted plenty of attention, and not all of it is the kind any food truck owner would want.

For now, Bug & Bear’s Cannoli may have won a few strategic battles, but they appear to have lost a much bigger battle with the audience.