- The mascot of the inaugural Pop-Tarts Bowl stole the hearts of football fans nationwide.
- The game's victors devoured actual Pop-Tarts, as the pastry paragon descended into a giant toaster.
It's been a long time since we've had a really good meme online.
And even longer since we had one that speaks to the helpless nadirs of humanity in this country: to remain joyous and pure as we drown in the molasses of capitalism.
On Thursday evening, the human Pop-Tarts mascot of the inaugural college football bowl between Kansas State and North Carolina State gave us just that. The Kansas State Wildcats won the match and were rewarded with a morbid and delectable prize: Players consumed actual Pop-Tarts as a human-sized Pop-Tarts mascot descended into a giant set toaster to be (fake) cooked.
Sports journalist Rodger Sherman asked the mascot's handler if it was "offensive" to eat the pastries in front of the mascot. "ITS [sic] THEIR DREAM," he apparently yelled back.
By Friday, the mascot and the entire spectacle became the perfect fodder and canvas for discussing how we're all feeling these days. The Pop-Tarts mascot became a mascot for the human condition.
he is excited to die. he craves oblivion. his life is nothing more than a bulwark between himself and the peace of drifting away through the infinite black nothingness. eat upon his flesh, so he may be free. pic.twitter.com/T0kMcraMoz
— Skyler Higley (@skyler_higley) December 29, 2023
The mascot represents our creeping and penetrating anxieties.
my anxiety creeping up on me after i had a good day for once pic.twitter.com/naVQ9YGYPr
— Hayley McGoldrick (@GoldieOnSports) December 29, 2023
Like Barbie, the Pop-Tart smiles brightly but looks to be on the precipice of questioning its existence and will to live.
— bring on the dancing horses (@inthefade) December 29, 2023
People on X (formerly Twitter) noted that the Pop-Tarts mascot holding a sign reading "dreams really do come true" as it's baked in the toaster machine is a brilliant commentary on how corporate work culture kills all our souls in the end.
why is this a brilliant representation of capitalism? comrade poptart mascot, you will be avenged in the revolution https://t.co/WV4sdrKvBJ
— K, J.D. (C⭐️NTY) (@kbbajd) December 29, 2023
To the Pop-Tarts Bowl mascot who's accepted its fate, smiling with a dream in hand as it descends into hell: You are me. You are us. For the last few days of 2023, you are our god. We feel seen.
why is this a brilliant representation of capitalism? comrade poptart mascot, you will be avenged in the revolution https://t.co/WV4sdrKvBJ
— K, J.D. (C⭐️NTY) (@kbbajd) December 29, 2023