Because apparently, anything can be “content.”
Social media has turned every brand into a 24/7 carnival barker. Most of the time, they’re pushing the usual suspects — shoes, skincare, SaaS. But sometimes? They decide to test just how far the internet will go for a laugh, a headline, or a quick buck.
Here are 12 of the weirdest things brands have ever tried to sell on social media.
1. KFC’s Firelog
Yes, KFC made a firelog that smelled like fried chicken. It sold out in hours — and made your living room smell like a drive-thru.
2. Tesla’s Tequila
Elon Musk launched “Tesla Tequila” in a lightning-bolt-shaped bottle. Social media went feral. The bottles now resell for thousands on eBay.
3. IHOP’s Pancake Perfume
For National Pancake Day, IHOP promoted a syrup-scented perfume. Nothing says romance like eau de maple.
4. Oscar Mayer’s Hot Dog-Flavored Popsicle
Called the “Cold Dog.” It was exactly what it sounds like: a hot dog–flavored popsicle. Social media’s reaction? Equal parts gagging and curiosity.
5. Pizza Hut’s Sneakers
Pizza Hut made sneakers with a button that could order a pizza. Clunky, ugly, and guaranteed to get you bullied on TikTok.
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The brand actually sold mini kegs filled with ranch dressing. Instagram loved it. Cardiologists, not so much.
7. Cheetos’ Bronzer
Chester Cheetah dropped an orange-tinted bronzer kit. Spoiler: it made people look like Doritos.
8. LEGO’s Levi’s Jacket
A collab where you could attach LEGO bricks to your denim jacket. Looked cool online. Hurt like hell if you leaned back on a chair.
9. Velveeta’s Nail Polish
The cheese brand sold “Finger Food” polish that smelled like Velveeta. Imagine scrolling your feed and smelling mac and cheese every time you touch your face.
10. Crocs with KFC Drumsticks
Crocs released a collab topped with fried chicken drumstick charms that actually smelled like chicken. Instagram went nuts. So did sneaker resellers.
11. Charmin’s Toilet Paper NFT
Charmin tried to cash in on NFTs by selling “non-fungible toilet paper.” Twitter clowned them. Hard.
12. Liquid Death’s Martha Stewart Candle
Liquid Death teamed up with Martha Stewart to sell a giant severed hand candle holding a can. Weird? Yes. Viral? Absolutely.
The Lesson:
On social, the weirder it is, the more it works. People don’t share “regular.” They share WTF.
Sometimes it’s gross, sometimes it’s genius — but it’s always a reminder that in the attention economy, the strangest products often win.
