BuzzFeed sold First We Feast, a now-independent studio known for producing the popular “Hot Ones” interview show on which celebrities eat increasingly hot chicken wings, for $82.5 million to a group of investors that includes the show’s Emmy-nominated host, Sean Evans, and billionaire George Soros’ Soros Fund Management.
Sean Evans will continue to host his hit talk show, “Hot Ones.” (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
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Key Takeaways
- First We Feast will operate as an independent company and plans to expand into new areas including “new platforms, live events, and talent acquisition,” First We Feast CEO Chris Schonberger said in a statement.
- “Hot Ones” has previously explored an expansion into live events, reportedly entering talks with Netflix in September to produce exclusive live content for the streaming platform.
- Evans will continue to host “Hot Ones” and also serve as First We Feast’s new chief creative officer, praising the show’s longevity as it approaches its tenth anniversary in March 2025.
- Other investors in the First We Feast sale include “Pod Save America” production company Crooked Media and comedy duo Rhett & Link’s Mythical Entertainment, with additional investors to be announced at a later date, according to the company’s statement.
- “Hot Ones,” originally produced under the Complex Networks umbrella, moved under BuzzFeed after the company purchased Complex for $294 million in 2021, though BuzzFeed eventually sold Complex, but retained First We Feast, in February for a much lower price of $108.6 million.
Key Background
Evans launched “Hot Ones” in 2015 under First We Feast, an offshoot of entertainment company Complex Networks. The show’s first guests included rapper Tony Yayo, Anthony Rizzo and Machine Gun Kelly, and as the show has grown in popularity, also attracted A-listers including Ariana Grande, Scarlett Johansson and Paul Rudd. On the series, Evans and his guest eat ten wings that get increasingly hotter.
The show often goes viral for celebrities’ dramatic reactions—or non-reactions—to the spicy wings. In one of the series’ most-viewed episodes, Shaquille O’Neal tears up, coughs and drinks straight from a gallon of milk after eating the hottest wings, while Jennifer Lawrence alternated between drinking water and milk, stating through tears that “nothing helps” alleviate the burn. Some celebrities, like Lorde and Charlize Theron, impressed viewers with minimal reactions to the spiciest chicken.
The First We Feast YouTube channel, where “Hot Ones” videos are uploaded, has 14 million subscribers. “Hot Ones” has earned two Daytime Emmy Nominations, including one for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show and another for Evans as host.
Tangent
“Hot Ones” turned down an interview request from Vice President Kamala Harris’ team during her presidential campaign because the show did not want to “delve into politics,” Harris campaign strategist Stephanie Cutter said after the election. Harris attempting to appear on “Hot Ones” is another instance of non-traditional media sources playing a key role in the campaign, including President-elect Donald Trump’s interviews on a number of podcasts such as Joe Rogan, as well as Harris’ appearance on the popular “Call Her Daddy” podcast.
Surprising Fact
“Hot Ones” isn’t the only popular chicken-focused celebrity interview show: Amelia Dimoldenberg’s “Chicken Shop Date” has also amassed a significant audience and attracted plenty of celebrity guests, and Dimoldenberg and Evans appeared on each other’s shows in November 2023.
