Flavor Flav Tries to Save Red Lobster by Ordering Everything; Menu Now Includes 'Bankruptcy Platter'

Flavor Flav Tries to Save Red Lobster by Ordering Everything; Menu Now Includes 'Bankruptcy Platter'

3 minute read
Published: 6/6/2024

In a last-ditch effort to save Red Lobster from the perils of financial ruin, rapper and reality TV personality Flavor Flav decided to take matters into his own hands—or, rather, his own stomach. The Public Enemy hype man ordered the entire Red Lobster menu in a move that turned a few heads and stirred up quite the sea breeze online.

Sharing his seafood smorgasbord on Instagram, Flav’s escapade went viral faster than the time it takes to say "Boyeeeeeeee!" His Instagram post was met with a tidal wave of likes, shares, and comments, turning the not-so-shellfish act into an overnight sensation. In a day and age where social media is king, Flavor Flav’s latest culinary adventure proved that sometimes, going overboard might just keep you afloat.

In the backdrop of this seafood spectacle, Red Lobster has certainly seen smoother sailing days. The restaurant chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief in May, and dozens of locations have since been auctioned off to the highest bidder—or perhaps, the hungriest pirate. Liquidation firm TAGeX Brands has been orchestrating the auction, turning what was once a bustling chain of seafood restaurants into a fisherman’s yard sale.

Flavor Flav, who has been a longtime fan of Red Lobster, took his family to one of the beleaguered chain's locations to share an extravagant meal that included everything from Cheddar Bay Biscuits to Lobsteritas. One couldn’t help but wonder if he brought a forklift to carry all that food. Ever the optimist, Flav remarked on critics who questioned his calorific corporate bailout, stating on X that he was helping to "save some of the staff with the money he spent."

Red Lobster didn't let Flav’s effort swim by unnoticed. The chain chimed in on his post with a fittingly excitable, "It's flavor time, boyeeeeeeee!" Indeed, in a time of financial strife, a celebrity endorsement—no matter how cholesterol-raising—can never hurt.

Yet, even Flavor Flav’s enthusiastic efforts couldn’t reverse the course toward financial distress. Former executives have pinned the blame for Red Lobster’s downfall on what they describe as mismanagement by Thai Union, an allegation that paints a murky picture of corporate seas and the ship they failed to control.

Meanwhile, in true multi-tasker fashion, Flavor Flav has not limited his hype-man skills to just one sinking ship. The ever-energized entertainer has also become the official hype man for the US women’s water polo team. No news yet as to whether he plans to order the entire concession stand menu at their next game.

Also caught in this financial downpour is Red Lobster’s Times Square location, which faces daunting rental negotiations. While the shrimp may be endless, the patience of Manhattan landlords seldom is.

Perhaps the most telling sign of just how deep Red Lobster's ship is sinking is their Orlando location – the lifeboat destination that closed nearly 100 outlets ahead of the Chapter 11 filing. With such waves of closures, it makes one wonder if the lobster catch of the day comes with a side of kleenex.

In classic celebrity style, Flavor Flav’s gesture was both grand and generous, but whether his gastronomic gallantry can truly steer Red Lobster clear of financial shipwreck remains a matter of some speculation. Until then, diners may have to savor the taste of their 'Bankruptcy Platter' with a pinch of salt.

And so, with forks raised and bibs secured, all we can do now is wait and see if Flavor Flav’s one-man feast might indeed become a lifeline for our beloved seafood stalwart. As they say, there's plenty of fish in the sea—unless, of course, Flavor Flav eats them all first.

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