2023 / Video / Branded live-event absurdist comedy
The Pop-Tarts Bowl Mascot
A smiling football mascot went into a giant toaster and came out as a pastry for the winning team to eat.
The original is hosted off-site; this page provides context and a link to it.
What was this?
At the December 28 Pop-Tarts Bowl, the mascot climbed into a giant toaster. An edible Pop-Tart emerged after Kansas State’s win, and the team ate it on the field.
Why it spread
Broadcast viewers and social posts made reaction edits that treated the Pop-Tart as a willing but doomed character.
What happened
At the December 28 Pop-Tarts Bowl, the mascot climbed into a giant toaster. An edible Pop-Tart emerged after Kansas State’s win, and the team ate it on the field.
Where it came from
Pop-Tarts announced in November 2023 that its inaugural college-football bowl would feature an edible mascot.
Why it mattered
The Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot turned a sponsorship stunt into a shared online joke by making the brand’s mascot, the event’s payoff, and the audience’s reference point the same thing.
How it spread
Broadcast viewers and social posts made reaction edits that treated the Pop-Tart as a willing but doomed character.
Keep going
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