If you thought the son of the late great Crocodile Hunter and renowned Aussie singer-songwriter G-Flip in a heated debate over the best twisties flavour was off the cards for 2024, you wouldn’t be alone. But PepsiCo has delivered in the most entertaining way possible, reigniting the great debate.
The ad, created by creative agency VaynerMedia for PepsiCo, commences with Robert Irwin stepping up to a podium to declare Chicken as the superior Twistie flavour. G-Flip then enters the screen with a dramatic drum solo that leads into a monologue professing Cheese the best flavour. The crowd cheers on for their chosen sides as the campaign invites Australians to vote for their favourite Twistie flavour in “The Great Flavour Debate” between chicken and cheese.
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G-Flip goes on to declare the cheese flavour a “national treasure”, to which Robert aptly replies, “The packet is literally green and gold” of the chicken flavour.
The campaign has ignited voices all over the internet, with many picking their own sides on the matter.
Some commenters were simply too thrilled by “possibly the best ad ever” to even think about voting. “Three national treasures in one video,” one commenter said.
However, some are not thrilled with the spot, calling it “cringy” and suggesting that Irwin stay out of the acting game.
“You don’t have to try so hard. The world loves you,” one commenter said. “You should stick to what your father built. You’re not an actor, man,” said another.
Irwin has also faced some backlash for his decision to support Chicken despite being an avid Animal rights protectionist. “Why are pushing for chicken if you are such an animal lover? No animals have to die for cheese,” one fan asked.
Many supporters jumped to Irwin’s defence, claiming that the brand does not use real chicken to brand its products. A quick look at Twisties’ ingredients confirms that the Chicken option does use chicken fat to flavour its products, but Irwin has never publicly claimed to be a vegetarian, despite his inclination for animal rights.
“Because he’s an animal activist, he has to be 100% vegan 100% of the time? His father loved a good lamb roast, and eating meat sustains their bodies for the strenuous exercise and work they do throughout the day, keeping the Australian zoo up to par,” one commenter pointed out.
In fact, when Irwin signed up to be involved in I’m A Celeb… earlier this year, he did so with a shake-up to the way the competition runs. “All the eating trials still continue, but it’s with sustainably farmed animals,” Rob insisted at the time. This, in and of itself, suggests that while Irwin is incredibly conscious of sustainable practices, he is not himself a vegetarian or vegan.
Voting in the Great Flavor Debate closes on Monday, June 26th. Sources close to B&T can confirm that at least one journo has voted pro-chicken.
