Exploding watermelon stunt
{{Short description|Act of breaking a watermelon with rubber bands}}
File:Rubber bands wrapped around a watermelon.png
The exploding watermelon stunt or exploding watermelon challenge involves wrapping rubber bands around a watermelon until the pressure of the rubber bands causes the watermelon to explode in a dramatic or spectacular fashion.
BuzzFeed event
On April 8, 2016, the website BuzzFeed streamed the stunt live on Facebook. (11 April 2016). [http://www.ibtimes.com/why-buzzfeed-exploding-watermelon-facebook-not-future-tv-2351880 Why BuzzFeed Exploding A Watermelon On Facebook Is Not The Future Of TV], International Business Times During the 45-minute stream, the event peaked at over 800,000 live watchers, and the resulting video of the event garnered millions of views.Nashrulla, Tasneem (8 April 2016). [https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/we-blew-up-a-watermelon-and-everyone-lost-their-freaking-min#.xikXDEoEgr We Blew Up A Watermelon And Everyone Lost Their Freaking Minds], BuzzFeed The event was parodied a few days later on The Tonight Show.Holub, Christian (14 April 2016). [http://www.ew.com/article/2016/04/14/jimmy-fallon-chicago-melon Jimmy Fallon parodies exploding watermelon video with 'Chicago Melon'], Entertainment Weekly The show had attempted the stunt in September 2015 with Olivia Wilde, but cut the segment short as it was taking too long.Goldstein, Ian (26 September 2015). [http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/26/jimmy-fallon-olivia-wilde-watermelon-tonight-show Jimmy Fallon and Olivia Wilde try to make a watermelon explode on The Tonight Show], Entertainment Weekly
The event generated discussion of the future of journalism where trivial events can garner significant attention.Rutenburg, Jim (18 April 2016). [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/18/business/media/for-news-outlets-squeezed-from-the-middle-its-bend-or-bust.html?_r=0 For News Outlets Squeezed From the Middle, It’s Bend or Bust], The New York TimesCastillo, Michelle (8 April 2006). [https://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/08/does-buzzfeed-hold-the-key-to-the-future-of-tv.html The future of TV: 800K watch a watermelon explode], CNBCKleinburg, Scott (11 June 2018). [http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/sc-cons-social-media-exploding-watermelon-0421-20160413-story.html "What an exploding watermelon teaches us about social media"], Chicago Tribune[https://www.wired.com/2016/04/7-tv-shows-fewer-viewers-buzzfeeds-exploding-watermelon-video/ "7 TV Shows With Fewer Viewers Than BuzzFeed's Exploding Watermelon Video"], Wired (8 April 2016).Hathaway, Jay (8 April 2016). [http://www.dailydot.com/lol/watermelon-explosion-facebook-future/ "Welp, the future of Facebook is exploding watermelons"], The Daily Dot
Challenge origin
The concept of putting rubber bands around a watermelon until it explodes first became popular on the internet as early as at least July 2012, when the stunt was filmed by The Slow Mo Guys with a very high frame-rate camera, but earlier videos date back at least to 2008.(16 July 2012). [http://laughingsquid.com/exploding-a-watermelon-with-rubber-bands/ "Exploding a Watermelon with Rubber Bands"], Laughing Squid
See also
References
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