# Chewbacca Mom

> A Facebook Live video of a mother laughing in a toy mask passed 164 million views.

- Owner: Candace Payne
- Kind: Creator moment
- Sector: Toys & collectibles
- Seed date: 2016-05-19
- Peak date: Week of May 22, 2016
- Date basis: Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 63 (Viral), v1.2
- Mechanics: Unscripted proof, Platform jump, Press loop, Response chain, Visible in use, Resale market

## Summary

Payne’s Facebook Live mask demonstration passed 164 million views by year-end. Radio, television and YouTube remixes followed. Masks sold out at several retailers, while Kohl’s delivered gifts and Hasbro made a figure with her face.

## Timeline

- 2016-05-19 — Candace Payne (Facebook) — Candace Payne posted a Facebook Live video of herself laughing in a Chewbacca mask.
- 2016-05-20 — TIME / BBC News (Press) — TIME and BBC News covered Payne’s mask video as it passed 48 million Facebook views.
- 2016-05-20 — NPR / Rachel Martin (Audio) — NPR’s Rachel Martin interviewed Payne by phone after watching her video.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/chewbacca-mom

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Chewbacca Mom.” Case HIS-00089. Spread Score v1.2: 63/100. Updated 2026-10-12. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00089