After the reveal of Leroy Smith in Tekken 7, American fans began inviting Katsuhiro Harada to 'the cookout' as an expression of appreciation for the character. Despite his proficiency in English and decades of international experience, Harada completely misread the phrase. Seeing frequent references to being 'cooked' online around the same time, he interpreted the invitation as veiled criticism or a threat, fearing he had somehow crossed an invisible cultural line and faced hostile backlash disguised as friendliness.

When someone eventually explained the true meaning—that a cookout invitation represents one of the highest compliments possible, signifying trust and acceptance into a close-knit family gathering—Harada felt immediate relief. He later reflected with humour on his misunderstanding, expressing surprise at how much larger American BBQ equipment and ingredients were compared to Japanese standards, and expressing genuine regret that he hadn't accepted an invitation to experience the community gatherings firsthand.