The Post Sell-Out Post
April 2, 2016 My fellow wrecky minions,
For 8 years I have steadfastly refused buy-out offers, sponsored posts, full-page ads, and every pop-up ad my network allows me to opt-out of. I have turned down "free money" in the form of after-the-click jumps, slideshows, and other unscrupulous posting practices. In short, I have done everything I possibly can to make Cake Wrecks a fun place for free laughs while still allowing John and I to do this for a living. It gets harder financially every year, as we've long since had to let go our part-time helper & guest writers, but these are standards I've never wavered on, and never will.
I thought it would be funny, then, to do something so WILDLY out of character for April Fools that you regular readers would immediately get the joke. I decided to make a CW post that looks like most other blog posts these days: a tongue-in-cheek, "sponsored post" parody.
Unfortunately, even after 8 years of writing online, I still managed to drastically underestimate the knee-jerk, jump-to-the-worst-conclusion-and-then-gather-an-angry-mob reaction of the interwebz at large. Not to mention their inability to check the calendar, and/or remember they were on a humor site. o.0
At first I took it as a compliment that so many people were falling for it, but within a few hours it was obvious things were getting out of hand. We lost readers. There was lots - and LOTS - of yelling.
;)
Some even called into question the legality of what we were doing, while others bashed poor Wilton, which of course knew nothing about our post, much less gave us a single cent in compensation.
I like to think the silent majority got the joke, had a laugh, and moved on, but regardless, John and I received a sound virtual thrashing yesterday.
I'm still rather bemused by the whole thing, but to be honest, I can't help but think: this is our thanks. This is what we get, after all these years, thousands of posts, thousands upon thousands of hours of hard work and heartache and just trying to do the right thing by our readers. After showing you guys who we are, after building a sense of trust and even community here alongside the giggles, all it took was one ill-received joke to turn us into pariahs.
Worse, it wasn't even a hurtful joke. Nothing tasteless or thoughtless or targeting any individual or group - just a parody of what everyone else online seems to be doing. Something that if we DID do (which we wouldn't), would only be because we needed the extra money to keep CW running.
To be fair, a few readers yesterday - who still didn't get the joke - were supportive. They wrote to say they understood, and everyone has to make a living, right? - and I was weirdly grateful, even while thinking, "How can you believe we would do this? Don't you know us?"
So anyway, I just wanted to say thanks to the silent majority who remembered what day it was yesterday, even if you didn't think my post was funny. And thanks to those who would support John and me even if we did "sell out." But mostly, thanks to those of you who took into account every post before yesterday's, and showed a little trust.
Now, let's get back to cake.
Because hey, I think I finally have an excuse to post this one:
;)
No foolin'.
*****
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Reader Comments (424)
I have been a fan of the site for just a couple of months, and I got the joke immediately. Some people should re-asses their priorities in life. They shouldn't get so upset over something on the internet. April Fools day can be dangerous because of that. Anyway, keep up the great work Cake Wrecks team. Love ya =)
Wow, I just thought you were being sarcastic! Never for a moment did I think Wilton had actually sponsored it.
Hi Jen & John,
I bought it, but then again I am gullible. :)
I had no issue with you guys needing to find a way to keep Cake Wrecks going. CW is a joy joy time in my day. Thanks for being there all these years and for keeping us in icing-coated stitches.
Though I'm behind in my reading and a couple days late, I still wanted to add my comment so you know just how loved and supported you are by your true fans. I've read every post you've ever written and have followed you since two months after you began this adventure (and I enjoy Epbot too). We longtime fans know your hearts and your humor and are amazed by the steps you've taken to stay authentic. And whatever you need to do to take care of you two and the cats, I support.
Hi Guys,
Another silent majority here! I was a little bemused at first...
"Does WIlton know they're all about Ugly cakes? I guess Wilton as a sense of humour! J&J must be laughing their asses off! And making a few bucks while it lasts..."
And then I got it.
I thought it was hilarious, and seriously? If you needed the cash, I could live with it. You've provided me with endless hours of free humour for years! I stumbled on your site literally days after it started, & haven't missed a post since. You're awesome.
TTFN!
K
You guys are the best! Always, and no matter what. I enjoyed your post, and silly me, was dumbfounded to hear what an uproar it caused. I have been following you for a while now, even have a turkey cake submission in your first book, and nothing you guys do will ever send me away. I am well aware that you are human, so no pressure, you are not on a pedestal, you are just good people. Anyone who can't appreciate that is missing out. Stay shiny!
I'm so sorry some people just don't have a sense of humor! I thought the April Fools post was hilarious and know you guys would never sell out. CW is part of my daily routine of websites and I will always think you guys are just the best!
gotta say I was really confused by the post! I thought it was a joke because of the day, but then I wasn't sure. I even mentioned it to my husband saying I just couldn't tell! But I figured you are still the funniest thing online and if you want to be sponsored by Wilton I would still read it! Sorry people were mean. That makes me sad. I'm still here!
Just another comment to say I'm sorry the joke backfired so unexpectedly, but I'm one of your legions of fans (since 2009 I think!) who still reads all your posts and is not going anywhere. You guys are the best and the funniest (still keepin it fresh after all these years) and I trust you to never ruin your own creation (unlike all the wreckerators!).
Wow, I'm out of it for a little while, and everyone gets delusions of... well, something not very grand, apparently.
I missed checking in for a couple days, so I'm actually kinda sad I didn't get that "aw, they got me!" feeling. I still thought it was hysterical, though!
Sorry people are still dumb, but you guys rock my face!
Now I gotta go see what I missed on Epbot!
I was silent, I got the joke...... but I also really hoped that they had given you mucho, mucho money. Mostly because that would have been super cool
Wow! So sorry that happened! You guys are a consistent bright spot, and even my ESL students knew not to trust anything they read on the internet on April Fool's Day! Keep up the good work.
One of the best things about the internet is the ability to reach a large audience of people who appreciate you - you can encounter a lot of great folks that way.
One of the worst things about the internet is the ease with which large numbers of unpleasant people can find you and share their nastiness with you. Apparently the anonymity of the interwebs makes some people think that Thumper's "If you can't say something nice... don't say nothing at all." no longer applies.
I hope the balance works out for you in the long run. Please know that there are a whole lot of us who love seeing what you do and appreciate all of your hard work. You put your heart and soul into what you do, and you make our world better. If you occasionally need to vent, go for it - we'll listen to that too.
Shared pain is lessened; shared joy, increased — thus do we refute entropy. ~ Spider Robinson
Thank you for all the laughs - CakeWrecks is excellent anti-entropy therapy.
Wow! I'm late to the party. I realized that some people didn't get it when I read the first page of posts on Fri. but no one on there was mean. Did you get mean comments through Facebook? (I don't have an account, or I'd go check.)
I got the fun right away, and even baked you that heart-shaped cake (See my comment from Fri.). I'm surprised it didn't completely make up for all the meanness and hurt caused by the idiots in this world. I KNOW how much you love cakes made from the heart-shaped cake pans!! :)
Keep on doin' you, babes! We love ya!
Sorry about the bad response. I read but seldom comment, so I'm just adding my "I got it (after a moment or two of confusion) and I liked it (even before I read about the rickrolls and went back to check them all)".
Wow. I haven't been on the site for a week or so, so this controversy is new to me, but I'm sorry anyway. :(
Some people can't take a joke.
Also, some people are stupid.
And jerks.
Stupid jerks.
Keep on keepin' on, Jen and John!
Yet another comment from a mostly silent reader...
I didn't realize it was a joke, I just thought it was a hilarious and entirely appropriate list of suggestions. Honestly, those bakers could definitely have used the input!
When I got to the bottom and saw the Wilton sponsorship announcement I thought "Oh, that makes sense. Yay for corporations who have a fantastic sense of humor and are willing to shell out cash for it!" I was happy for you. You have already had books out, I thought you were just sort of expanding the empire, as it were. ^^
I haven't been a reader long enough to realize just how anti-sponsorship you guys are, (but I have been a pretty faithful one since I discovered you. I usually pull you up over at my Mom's house so we can have conniptions together. ^_^)
As Annie pointed out among the very first comments above, many people don't realize that the ads that appear on your site are not there by your choice. I am one of those people. I had no idea. They don't bother me at all, I just ignore them. But the fact that they are there and that I am relatively new does mean that I found your Wilton sponsorship slightly more plausible than, say, a longtime reader might have.
Please don't take this as my saying it's your fault people believed you, or that you should have seen this coming. That's not what I mean at all, I'm simply explaining my particular situation, (which other people may well share in.) No one could have seen the irrationally angry responses that so many people had coming. The sad truth is, sometimes, people just SUCK. You should definitely be able to post whatever hilarity you want to, without worrying that someone somewhere will suddenly hate you for it. (And what an odd thing to cause it too! It's not like you were talking about religion, politics or any other "hot button" issues!)
It was a very unfortunate situation, and I'm sorry you were hurt by it.
I hope you will continue to run CW for many years to come. I, and many others, will certainly continue to read it for many years to come.
*hugs*
I am getting to this controversy late after having missed the posts the past few days. I need to throw in my support because the way people behave over the internet makes me so sad and Cake Wrecks makes me so happy. If someone doesn't like a post, I don't know why they just can't move along rather than sending their wrath at that person.
And while I'll never quite know whether I would have gotten the joke, I'd like to think I would because . . . Wilton?! Why would anyone think that you would seriously acquire Wilton as a sponsor? You picked the perfect joke company because Wilton products often produce the best wrecks! :)
So basically yay for you. Don't be discouraged please. And to the people who were mean to you, boo, booooo, rubbish, filth, slime, muck! boo, boo, BOOOO!
I love Cake Wrecks and Epbot and I'm sorry people had such a poor reaction. Relatedly, do you have a donate button I am just not seeing? And if not, have you considered adding one?
I just saw these today, having been busy, but the title of yesterday's post used the word PREfessionals, so that was kind of a clue that it wasn't for real!
Maybe the links all being Rickrolls was a clue? Also, so what if you had done a sponsored post? Unless all the outraged people have been donating to support the site... (cue hysterical laughter).
FWIW - you got me and I laughed a LOT when I twigged. Then I called my husband in and I had to point out that the post was 7 days ago. And point to a calendar. And wait....
It was beautiful and perfect. Especially not seeing it for a week so my guard was down!
Thanks for the hearty belly laugh. From both of us.
Another member of the silent majority belatedly checking in. Hoping the avalanche of support has helped soothe the pain of being so misunderstood. I bought a few copies of your first book when it originally came out, and it has been providing laughter and fun (in several countries) ever since. I love how it brings people together, and provokes laughter and even tears among (those I would consider) the most unlikely of people! That's you - what you do. With your wit and your light touch and your care for your readers. I am sorry to hear you were so underestimated from those who have received joy from you - what an ungrateful response. When I saw your AF post I didn't get it right away, but I was definitely waiting for a punchline, because I know your writing style. I twigged at "Imaginary Reader With Real-Life Concerns" - what a great line!
I missed the post! Now I'm sad. You guys have been a staple in my Internet diet. You helped me get through a really dark time in my life. I'm so glad you've been able to keep this going! From, a long-time supporter.