BuzzFeed announced that it has officially sold the company behind its YouTube show “Hot Ones” to an affiliate company backed by George Soros.
BuzzFeed announced in a press release Thursday that it has completed the sale of media company First We Feast to a consortium led by affiliates of Soros Fund Management LLC for $82.5 million. The sale ends a months-long effort to sell the company and pay off millions of dollars in debt.
“The sale of First We Feast and the continued reduction of convertible debt is an important step.” BuzzFeed, Inc. “We are strategically transforming ourselves into a media company that can take full advantage of the ongoing AI revolution,” said Jonah Peretti, Founder and CEO of BuzzFeed.
He continued, “In the coming years, we will continue to invest in our most scalable, technology-enabled services, launch new AI-powered interactive experiences, and expand our service offerings to our loyal audience and business partners. We will continue to provide it.”
“Hot Ones” is scheduled to continue even after its release. (Photo by J. Countess/Getty Images)
Heidi Klum takes off her bra while answering questions in 'Hot' interview
First We Feast is best known for creating the long-running YouTube talk show “Hot Ones.” On the show, host Sean Evans asks celebrities interview questions in between munching on spicy chicken wings.
Past guests have included “Gladiator II” star Paul Mescal, pop star Sabrina Carpenter and late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon. Interviews go viral on a regular basis. Evans' interview with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has now been viewed more than 129 million times.
Harris campaign officials also admitted in November that they tried to have Vice President Kamala Harris appear on the show, but she refused because she didn't want to play politics.
The Harris campaign revealed that an attempt to have Vice President Kamala Harris appear on the popular YouTube podcast “Hot Ones” was rejected. (Hyoung Chang / Contributor | Andrew Harnik / Staff)
Other buyers in the deal include Mythical Entertainment and Crooked Media. Crooked Media was founded by former Obama staffers and Crooked Media. received investment From Soros Fund Management in 2022.
First We Feast's management team, including founder Chris Schoenberger, is expected to remain in place.
“What started as a humble foodie blog has evolved into a powerful multi-platform brand,” Schoenberger said. “With our new investment, we are poised to expand into exciting new areas including new platforms, live events and talent acquisition, solidifying First We Feast as the ultimate destination for pop culture-obsessed audiences. ”
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“Hot Ones” is expected to continue, and Evans is optimistic about the future.
Several celebrities have appeared on the viral segment of “Hot Ones.” (Let's have a feast first)
“I'm excited to continue hosting 'A Show with Hot Questions and Even Hotter Wings' for many years to come,” Evans said. “The future is spicy and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
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FOX News' Gabriel Hayes contributed to this report.
