With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Once A Hard Sell, Wal-Mart's Patti LaBelle Pies Fly Off Shelves
Listen
• 2:17
TK
(
via Youtube
)
Earlier this year, singer and cookbook author Patti LaBelle teamed up with Wal-Mart to make a sweet potato pie.
It costs $3.48, it's got her face on the box, and sales were just OK when it came out in September.
But today, it's a scarcity. The pies have sold out in many Wal-Mart stores and are going for up to $40 on eBay. (We found this Craigslist listing selling slices for $10 each in Washington, D.C.)
And that's all because of this guy. (Warning: The video includes some profanity.)
Support for LAist comes from
A singer named James Wright posted this video to Facebook last week. In it, he unboxes and eats the Patti LaBelle pie while breaking into song like he's in a Patti LaBelle musical (with the occasional profanity thrown in). The video has since racked up over 8.5 million views, and Wal-Mart hasn't been able to keep up with the ensuing demand for pie.
According to Kerry Robinson, vice president for bakery and deli at Wal-Mart, they were selling a pie per second last weekend, after the video dropped.
That number is close to the reigning king of holiday pies, pumpkin. It's also caused some supply issues for LaBelle's pies.
"We are working very hard with our supplier to try and produce more product," says Robinson. "We're in the process of securing another 2 million pounds of sweet potatoes."
Syreeta Gates is banking on those 2 million pounds coming through by Saturday. She lives in New York City, and she's hoping to buy a couple pies this weekend.
"I've been a fan of Patti LaBelle for my entire life," Gates says. "I remember my mother playing her at home, and I have all the cookbooks. But after I saw the video, I said, 'You know what? I think I'm going to go out and buy some pies.' "
Support for LAist comes from
She's got the cookbooks, and she can make the pie herself. But she's still going out to buy a bunch for her friends. Because she says it's not about the taste: It's about taking part in a wider celebration of black culture.
"I'm sure a lot of our grandmas can make sweet potato pies that are equivalent, if not possibly better, than Patti LaBelle's pie," Gates says. "People congregate around food. But this is the first time in a real way that the community — black people, or people of color — have communed around food via the Internet." They're "breaking bread" together, she says.
And to participate in that, Gates says, is a treat. It's like Thanksgiving came early.
Copyright 2024 NPR
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist