This seems a bit of a stretch. Plenty of industries have tipping, but I haven't heard of a company leader blaming low pay to lack of tips. Do you have any sources to back this statement?
You see this sentiment ALL the time in food services. Wait staff or pizza delivery guys always bitch about "cheap" customers instead of the reality that their boss lies about prices and then skims it out of their paychecks when people don't pay the "real price" of the food.