Tony the Tiger typically helps young kids seize the day in his Frosted Flakes cereal ads. But a new prank video shows the cartoon mascot helping a distressed sex worker hook new customers.
In the video, which surfaced online Wednesday, two men argue about which one of them will patronize a 43-year-old sex worker named Candy.
Advertisement
"You can ride the baloney pony," a man says as he counts a fistful of money in front of Candy.
"You can have her," says the man's unimpressed friend.
"No, I don't want her," replies the man with the money. "You're stuck with her."
The video cuts to a depressed Candy, who is walking down the street alongside her cereal pimp, who apparently has a position on sex work: "It's gr-e-e-a-t!"
"I don't care Tony, it's such a stupid job anyway," Candy tells the sugar-coated-cereal-pushing cartoon tiger.
Tony assures Candy she'll "show them" and then encourages her to eat a "complete breakfast with my vitamin packed frosted flakes" and promises they'll "bring out the tiger" in her: "They're grrrrreat."
Advertisement
The video, which you can watch above, only gets more offensive from there. As tasteless as it may be for some, the video is apparently part of a larger prank. It appears to have originated from a new website called tonyisback.com, which as adweek.com points out, does a good job of mimicking the real Kellogg's website.
"I've helped so many kids to solve their everyday problems over the years," reads a statement on the website. "I contacted ten people who were children 30 years ago in my Frosted Flakes commercials, and asked them what their problems are now in their 40’s. See how I helped them!”
The website promises additional videos will be forthcoming.
"Wait till you see tomorrow's video," reads a message on the website. "It's even better than Candy's."
The creators of the site did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Huffington Post.
Advertisement
However, the Kellogg Company did confirm Tony is not a sugar daddy.
"The website and video have absolutely nothing to do with Kellogg," the company said in a statement emailed to The Huffington Post. "Tony is a beloved icon and we will protect the integrity of our brands and our characters."
Also on HuffPost:
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.