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Library/Campaign/KFC Extra Crispy Sunscreen
Grade B29 sourcesHIS-00247

KFC Extra Crispy Sunscreen

Campaign · 2016 · Niche

33Editable slideCertificate

KFC’s chicken-scented sunscreen giveaway ran out of its initial 3,000 bottles in hours.

Original · re-upload by Les Entremetteurs
A fried chicken-scented sunscreen giveaway promoted by an infomercial starring George Hamilton as the Colonel.
Les Entremetteurs on YouTube
KFC Extra Crispy Sunscreen bottle from the official launch press kit.
KFC
XtraCrispy
TIME
KFC Will Warm Your Hearth This Winter With Fried Chicken-Scented Firelogs
KFC via PR Newswire
How KFC gets the media to do their marketing for them
Digiday

Spread Score

How it works
Reach8Contagion35Breadth60Velocity69Longevity1133

Numbers

YouTube seed; top ten derivatives unmeasured (lower bound)
200K
As of Aug 23, 2016 · YouTube · Digiday
Seed to peak
1 day
Aug 22 ’16 to Aug 23 ’16
Platforms
7
Started on YouTube
Origin
Stunt
Food & beverage

Mechanics

  • Scarcity drop
  • TransgressionPrimary
  • Platform jump
  • Press loop
  • Resale market
  • Sell-out loop

How it spread

Trace the origin

KFC launched a chicken-scented sunscreen giveaway with a George Hamilton infomercial. Its initial batch ran out in hours as press and social reactions spread. KFC offered another batch; the ad’s script later appeared as Reddit copypasta.

Google searchesJun ’16AugSepMar ’17JulOctApr ’18SepApr ’19OctJun ’20DecPeakYouTubePressOpen webXFacebookSnapchatReddit
YouTubePressOpen webXFacebookSnapchatReddit

13 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

Timeline (16)

  1. August 2016

    KFC seed · Aug 22 ’16

    KFC released its sunscreen infomercial and opened the free giveaway to U.S. residents.[1][2][3][4]

    A fried chicken-scented sunscreen giveaway promoted by an infomercial starring George Hamilton as the Colonel.
    Open the first post ↗

  2. Business Insider press · Aug 22 ’16

    Business Insider covered the launch and tested a bottle supplied by KFC.[5][6][7]

  3. Eater backlash · Aug 22 ’16

    Eater reported that early testers compared the sunscreen’s smell to urine or a baby’s diaper.[9]

Changelogupdated Oct 12 ’26
  1. 2026-10-12Added: 16 events, 22 sources · Score 40
Origin
Stunt
Sector
Food & beverage
Region
US
YouTube seed; top ten derivatives unmeasured (lower bound)
200K
As of Aug 23, 2016 · YouTube · Digiday
Evidence
Grade B

Spread the same way

Kylie Lip Kits

Open web · 2015

54
Current Kylie Cosmetics Matte Lip Kit with liquid lipstick and matching lip liner.

15K sold

KFC x Crocs

Retail · 2020

52
KFC x Crocs Classic Clogs with fried chicken prints and drumstick charms.

2.9B impressions

NYX x Barbie The Movie collection

Open web · 2023

46
NYX Professional Makeup Launches New Limited-Edition "Barbie™ The Movie" Collection

4.2B impressions

Lilly Pulitzer for Target

Retail · 2015

38
A model wore Lilly Pulitzer for Target swimwear while reclining on floral outdoor textiles.

New cases, every week

How the next thing spread, the week it does.

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Google searchesJun ’16AugSepMar ’17JulOctApr ’18SepApr ’19OctJun ’20DecPeakYouTubePressOpen webXFacebookSnapchatReddit
YouTubePressOpen webXFacebookSnapchatReddit

13 more events on this chart

Join free to see them

  1. August 2016

    KFC seed · Aug 22 ’16

    KFC released its sunscreen infomercial and opened the free giveaway to U.S. residents.[1][2][3][4]

    A fried chicken-scented sunscreen giveaway promoted by an infomercial starring George Hamilton as the Colonel.
    Open the first post ↗

  2. Business Insider press · Aug 22 ’16

    Business Insider covered the launch and tested a bottle supplied by KFC.[5][6][7]

  3. Eater backlash · Aug 22 ’16

    Eater reported that early testers compared the sunscreen’s smell to urine or a baby’s diaper.[9]

  1. owner response · Aug 22 ’16

  2. platform jump · Aug 22 ’16

Join free to see the other 13 events and the full chart. Free, on every case.

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Why it worked

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