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Library/Creator moment/Nuggs for Carter
Grade B31 sourcesHIS-00320

Nuggs for Carter

Creator moment · 2017 · Viral

60Editable slideCertificate

A plea for free nuggets broke Twitter’s retweet record with 3.43 million shares.

Carter Wilkerson

@carterjwm · Apr 6, 2017

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS

1.1M32.3K
Original · Carter Wilkerson

Wendy’s

@Wendys · Apr 6, 2017

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 https:

Carter Wilkerson@carterjwm

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS

16.6K141
Post · @Wendys on X

Microsoft

@Microsoft · Apr 7, 2017

We're in. How about you, @amazon and @Google? #NuggsForCarter

Carter Wilkerson@carterjwm

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS

20.1K200
Post · @Microsoft on X

Amazon

@amazon · Apr 8, 2017

Live your best life, Carter. Follow your dreams. #NuggsForCarter

Carter Wilkerson@carterjwm

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS

14.6K66
Post · @amazon on X

Mattress Firm

@MattressFirm · Apr 8, 2017

Hey, @carterjwm! Hit 18m and we've got your food coma sleep pack ready. You're gonna need it 😏. #NuggsForCarter cc: @Wendys

Carter Wilkerson@carterjwm

HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS

3.6K3
Post · @MattressFirm on X
Clip · TheEllenShow on YouTube
Clip · TheEllenShow on YouTube
Wendy's | #NuggsforCarter
The One Club (Ketchum / VML / Wendy’s submission)
HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS
@carterjwm on X
Carter Wilkerson (16) from Reno, Nevada: if he gets 18 million retweets, he gets free chicken nuggets for life from US fast-food chain Wendy. Photograph: Carter Wilkerson/Twitter
The Irish Times (Guardian Service)
#NuggsForCarter: Nevada teen racking up Twitter RTs to earn a year’s worth of Wendy’s nuggets - National | Globalnews.ca
Global News
HOLLYWOOD, ?CA March 2, 2014 ????Host Ellen DeGeneres shares a laugh with Oscar nominees after tak
TIME
Ellen Meets Her Chicken Nugget Twitter Opponent
TheEllenShow on YouTube
The allure of Wendy's chicken nuggets is at the center of Twitter's most retweeted tweet.
NPR / KPBS
Nuggs For Carter breaks Ellen’s Twitter retweets world record
Guinness World Records
Ellen and Bradley Cooper Need Your Help
TheEllenShow on YouTube

Spread Score

How it works
Reach61Contagion65Breadth80Velocity65Longevity2160

Numbers

Campaign earned media impressions (agency claim)
3.2B
Self-reported · The One Club (Ketchum / VML / Wendy’s submission)
Seed to peak
1 day
Apr 6 ’17 to Apr 7 ’17
Platforms
4
Started on X
Origin
Mixed
Food & beverage

Mechanics

  • UnderdogPrimary
  • Brand pile-on
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Pairing

How it spread

Trace the origin

Carter asked Twitter to help him win free Wendy’s nuggets. Brands joined, television reported the campaign, and agency outreach took the contest to Ellen. He broke her record, and Wendy’s announced free nuggets and a $100,000 charity donation.

Google searchesMar ’17AprMayJunJulSepNovFeb ’18MayPeakXPressOpen webTV
XPressOpen webTV

14 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

Timeline (17)

  1. April 2017

    @Wendys precursor · Apr 6 ’17

    Wendy’s set Carter an 18 million retweet target for a year of free nuggets.[1][2]

  2. @carterjwm seed · Apr 6 ’17

    Carter posted his exchange with Wendy’s and asked Twitter users to help him get free nuggets.[3][4]

    HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS

  3. @Wendys first amplifier · Apr 6 ’17

    Wendy’s quoted Carter’s screenshot plea to its own Twitter audience.[5][6]

    Carter Wilkerson (16) from Reno, Nevada: if he gets 18 million retweets, he gets free chicken nuggets for life from US fast-food chain Wendy. Photograph: Carter Wilkerson/Twitter
Changelogupdated Oct 12 ’26
  1. 2026-10-12Added: 16 events, 20 sources · Score 64
Origin
Mixed
Sector
Food & beverage
Region
US
Campaign earned media impressions (agency claim)
3.2B
Self-reported · The One Club (Ketchum / VML / Wendy’s submission)
Evidence
Grade B

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Official DeepSeek app screenshot from its app announcement.

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R.E.P.O. on Steam

$25.5M revenue

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

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Google searchesMar ’17AprMayJunJulSepNovFeb ’18MayPeakXPressOpen webTV
XPressOpen webTV

14 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. April 2017

    @Wendys precursor · Apr 6 ’17

    Wendy’s set Carter an 18 million retweet target for a year of free nuggets.[1][2]

  2. @carterjwm seed · Apr 6 ’17

    Carter posted his exchange with Wendy’s and asked Twitter users to help him get free nuggets.[3][4]

    HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS

  3. @Wendys first amplifier · Apr 6 ’17

    Wendy’s quoted Carter’s screenshot plea to its own Twitter audience.[5][6]

    Carter Wilkerson (16) from Reno, Nevada: if he gets 18 million retweets, he gets free chicken nuggets for life from US fast-food chain Wendy. Photograph: Carter Wilkerson/Twitter

  1. peak · Apr 7 ’17

  2. press · Apr 7 ’17

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Why it worked

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