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On Thursday, a Twitter user made a discovery to rival Einstein's theory of relativity: fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken follows exactly 11 people on Twitter, and those 11 people are the five members of the Spice Girls and six men named Herb. Or, to put it another way, "11 herbs and spices," much like the listed ingredients used in a "secret blend" to season Colonel’s Original Recipe® chicken.
.@KFC follows 11 people.
— 🅴🅳🅶🅴 (@edgette22) October 19, 2017
Those 11 people? 5 Spice Girls and 6 guys named Herb.
11 Herbs & Spices. I need time to process this.
One of the six Herbs KFC graced with a follow is none other than L.A. City Council President Herb J. Wesson, Jr. Wesson told LAist on Thursday that he had not been aware that he'd made KFC's exclusive Twitter list, but proclaimed the news "very cool." When asked how he felt about being one of KFC's 11 Twitter follows, Wesson responded, "I understand it, because I am extremely spicy sometimes, and KFC is all about spice."
Wesson's own relationship with KFC dates back to his youth growing up in Ohio, where he says he was always "first in line" for the fast food chain's seasonal BBQ chicken: "I eat Original Recipe. I'm the Original guy." Now, Wesson says, he'll still "go over to KFC and buy 4 or 5 pints of their coleslaw" to serve at family barbecues. We asked Wesson asked whether he thinks KFC knows about his affinity for its product, to which the Councilmember responded, "They need to know."
"I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want—to be up there with Victoria and Baby Spice," the City Council president added.
That finger lickin’ good feeling when you are one of @KFC’s 11 herbs and spices! pic.twitter.com/J9AslN9cLx
— Herb J. Wesson, Jr. (@HerbJWesson) October 20, 2017
In addition to Councilmember Wesson, KFC's other Herb follows include Santa Clara University Head Coach Herb Sendek, Pasadena-based MMA fighter Herb Dean, Deseret News reporter Herb Scribner, jazz musician Herb Alpert and Green Bay Packers football cornerback Herb Waters. An eclectic mix of Herbs, to be sure, and one that doesn't appear to be linked by any common thread (other than the fact that all six Herbs are Twitter-verified.)
"I noticed the follow a few weeks back. I thought it was weird to followed by KFC. Like. What? And then I checked and saw they were following 11 other people, including the Spice Girls! How cool," Deseret News staff writer Herb Scribner told LAist in a DM.
"Crazy how it went so viral today. I really hope KFC will give all of us —both the spice girls and the Herbs — some free chicken for a year or something," he continued.
LAist reached out to KFC for comment on their Herb selection process, but did not immediately hear back. We will, of course, update as this story develops.
