Hot Ones, a web series where one normally sees celebrities burst into tears while eating chicken wings, has recently spiced up the commercial scene. On December 12, 2024, BuzzFeed announced that it was selling Hot Ones and its parent company, First We Feast, for $82.5 million. And who came to collect the empire? A group of investors consisting of Soros Fund Management, Sean Evans (the Wing Whisperer himself) and Chris Schonberger.
As the news spread online, users flocked to social media with their rib-tickling reactions, beginning with fairly funny to hilarious. A (probably confused) X (formerly Twitter) user asked a very genuine question: "Sold it to who?"
A user cheekily wrote: "That's one hot buy."
As per this user, "the real question is who the hell is paying $82.5M for hot ones??"
A user humorously stated: "Hopefully it doesn't become Cold Ones now..."
A user said: "The only time they’ve made money on anything in the last 15 to 20 years."
Yet another comment read: "The biggest shock of this news is finding out BuzzFeed was still around."
BuzzFeed's sale of Hot Ones
If you have never heard of Hot Ones, think of it as the show that tests the essence of the human spirit. Created by Chris Schonberger, and presented by Sean Evans, the show features celebrities eating chicken wings, while the host asks them tough questions.
Everything was going well and good with our favorite celebs turning into fire-throwing dragons from Game of Thrones. So why this move? The New York Times reports that in an attempt to extricate itself from a $124 million debt, BuzzFeed cut its high-earning, highly successful division.
Now for $82.5 million, First We Feast will be owned and run separately, with Schonberger as the CEO and Evans as the company’s Chief Creative Officer, according to Reuters. So in other words, they get to eat spicy wings, have celebrity interviews AND also take full charge of the business.
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The show has gained popularity more so to the producers’ delight after its inception in 2015. This show is not a fluke; indeed, it is a five-alarm fire with over 14 million subscribers in the pot. The celebrities that have endured the heat are; Scarlett Johansson, Jordan Peele, Gordon Ramsey, Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, and many others.
Interestingly, they also make room at the table for fictional icons. Shrek's dashing feline, Puss in Boots, once charmed audiences while promoting Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. On August 23, 2024, Disney celebrated Donald Duck’s 90th birthday by throwing him into the Hot Ones arena—animated wings and all. Then on October 21, 2024, Hot Ones broke new ground with Peter Griffin, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Family Guy.
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