Reality Bit
July 28, 2009 NOTE: This post was written several days ago, and was not intended to be a commentary on any breaking news events. My sincere apologies to any who may find it offensive.
Cake artists, can we talk? I feel like we need to have a little heart-to-heart.
Ok, here's the deal: I know that you guys are talented - I do! - and I get that you like to showcase your talent with the cakes you make.
The only problem is, when you make something like this:
Photo removed at baker's request
Not to mention it's depressing; could that look any more funereal?
Look at it from the cake consumer's perspective: would you want to slice into a sleeping baby?
"I call butt!"
Or worse, have a toddler's eyeball staring up at you from your plate?
Yeah, I didn't think so.
So cake sculptors, please, stop making us choose between cake deprivation and feeling like a cannibal. If you must make a baby cake, make it nice and cartoony - preferably with no basis in reality whatsoever.
You know, like this:
Three arms, a gravity defying diaper, and crazy sunglasses? Yep, I'd eat that.
Update: Tons of you are saying that's a butt crack, not an arm. (The rest claim it's Epcot.) I can almost see that, but I still think it looks more like an arm. ;)
- Related Wreckage: You Say Goodbye, and I Say Hello
Reader Comments (296)
I'm so glad that other people saw the butt crack. Three arms was disturbing. Once people pointed out the butt crack I was much less disturbed. Still disturbing, but at least I'll be able to sleep tonight without seeing three armed babies. ;)
I don't understand Jen's note at the top...what current events would cause people to be offended by this post?
oh my!............no one should ever eat those, they should feel guilty.........at confession"one time i ate a baby".....GROSS!
I think the question I need to ask at tis point is, who keeps ordering these cakes?
I mean that first one is really well done although quite morbid so you have to think they didn't mess up the order. Someone asked for that.
Ok.....it took me a really looong look to see the butt crack for what it was lol butt (oops but) lol it fnally went from third arm to butt ROFL
We love you, Jen. Just had to throw that out there and we know you wouldn't do anything intentional. Eegads. I'm really glad I don't have cable right now.
I don't know...I've been a journalist, so I undestand the integrity thing where you don't want to allow anyone's bias dictate the stories you're going to run. However, with that right comes responsibility to your readers. If you're going to run something THIS inflammatory, it had better be for a damn good reason. It had better be for your readers own good, even if it's going to sting in the delivery. Nobody gained here. Not your readers, who were reminded of a gruesome tragedy for no greater cause. Not even you, when you could have easily pulled from the archives today instead of coming off all "I'm the boss of this blog and you guys don't have the power to make me show good taste. Pfthhhh!"
Well, we do have the power to stop reading if it seems like this blog isn't being written responsibly. If there's much more of this kind of thing I won't be back.
PS
It's totally an ass crack.
Actually I'm confused by the weird red thing next to butt-crack baby.
Looks like kiwis, moth balls and bugs to me--yum!
Wreck on, Jen.
All I have to say is my 5 year old said, "Is that a cream baby? I wouldn't eat a cream baby! YUCK!" with no prompting from me.
So even cake #1 was too gross for a 5 year old to overcome.
To Egan and several others,
Jen and I struggled for about two hours this morning trying to decide whether to take this post down. Yes we did take the horse post down and we go a HUGE amount of flak for that.
Please understand, when you run a blog this big and you spend as many hours as Jen does trying to make you guys laugh everyday, a post like this is a no win situation. I guess we figured that all of the RSS feed people would see it anyway and our early core readers didn't seem that offended.
We really are sorry if you were offended. Try to remember though that any other day, you would not have been.
You guys are the best.
john
A Modest Proposal anyone?
Oh, wow. Have I got some thoughts.
1. "ITS NOT A 3DR ARM ITS EPCOT DUHHHHHHH JEN"
(Yes, I read through every comment to see if someone had posted it ;-)
2. Kate, you couldn't have said it better!
3. Maybe cake shouldn't be so realistic in this case. I'm all for things like Amazing Cakes and Cake Boss, where the cakes look like shoes, shoe boxes, and jewelry holders (seriously! Did you see the attention to detail?!). Living things? Not so much. If God somehow thinks I am capable of raising a child, the cake at the bridal shower will have a simple, classic "congradulatins - it a gril!!!''!"
And maybe Darth Vader and/or Harry Potter.
End rant.
I just want to say that I'm glad you haven't pulled the post so far. You can't keep from offending everyone all the time, and it's obvious that you aren't making fun of what happened in Texas.
By the way, I've been reading your blog since sometime in October, and you've always managed to at least make me smile. More often than not, I end up in giggles, especially if I've been away from the computer for a few days and have a few posts to catch up on. :)
Scary cakes. Ew.
I must say:
Personally, I am offended by all the comments detailing the horrific news story.
I don't watch the news for a reason, people!!
To avoid being disgusted by all the sick crazies out there.
I read this blog and keep in touch with my friends and they tell me the news I need to hear.
Please keep your horror stories to yourself. This is not the place for them.
If the real world unfortunately aligns with cakewrecks, that's not Jen's fault, and keep your nasty sad stories to yourself, please!
Reapeat, if you must link to a story, please don't show a link that has a full description of the horror!
NOT SOMETHING I WANT OR NEED TO HEAR ABOUT!
Please let's enjoy laughing at the stupid cakes and keep the media coverage of psycopaths out of it. Hmm?
Alex
Ps. @I love baby quilts - I am sorry for your loss. That has got to be hard, I can't imagine.
Wv: recham - These cakes make me recham.
Ok, most of the comments I glanced at seem to be talking about the last cake. That's fine by me, because I am talking about that one too. I saw three arms. Then I had to concentrate to see the butt crack. Then I had to squint and tilt my head to imagine the butt crack connecting with the bum. Then I went back to seeing three arms.
It's easier that way.
lol!
It's an optical illusion!
At first I saw three arms, now I can see two and a butt crack if I concentrate. Awesome.
I know someone who collects Victorian postmortem photographs, which often (sadly) feature babies. That top cake would be PERFECT for him.
OMG... what a bunch of self-righteous know-it-alls.
Since WHEN does some random news story have any right to dictate or influence what a person can write about?
I'll suggest NEVER.
There is NOTHING offensive here.
As it has already been pointed out by someone else with common sense, THESE are CAKES.
There are any number of horrific stories out there--every single minute of every single day; the NEWS MEDIA's job is to cover/report them.
It is far from being any blogger's responsibilty to check with a non-existent and very large staff of advisors as to what story *might* just happen to be politically incorrect or minutely offensive at any given moment.
This world is real, and bad things happen.
If we weren't so hard-wired to up-to-the-minute news feeds, life would still go on.
Oh, yeah--life DOES still go on.
Funny, isn't it?
"Also, I keep wondering -- are the people offended by pictures (not even offensive pictures!) of baby-shaped cakes SO affected by this news in Texas that they can't stand to look at their own babies? Are they locking babies away from sight? Are they yelling at mommies with strollers on the streets?"
just had to comment on this that it's not looking at babies, or pictures of cake babies, but it's the comments about slicing into the baby, feeling like a cannibal and eating a baby, which just happend over the weekened here in Texas.
It's not just a baby that died, sad, and yes, it does happen every day, but a newborn that had it's face ripped off and it's brains eaten by it's mother... a whole different thing.
Though I still love your blog, just sad today about this story and I wanted to come here to feel that sadness lessened, not be reminded of it.
Holy Smokes, Cakeman. Everyone was so concerned about the "third arm" that no one commented that the baby's crack looks like a whale.
Also, much more should have been said about the creepy, tiara-wearing offspring of the Burger King guy and Thing from the Adams Family.
You go, Jen. I support you!
Okay seriously, this story hasn't even made it out of TX yet. No one knows about this except for the Texas readers. There is no way that EVERYONE can know every news story that goes on. And guess what, there are horrible baby/child/women/men tragedies every single day. So we should just censor the entire internet? It hasn't hit the national media, it's not on any of the major news networks yet. This isn't insensitive or should be pulled because of some poor timing that is going to happen, unfortunately, nearly every single week.
DELICIOUS BABY MEATS!
Uh, wow. If I hadn't seen this blog post, I wouldn't have known about the woman in Texas. I kind of wish I hadn't see this post.
Why would anyone want to eat a cake featuring a baby who has his hand down inside his sagging (which is always a good indication there is some heft and weight inside!) diaper? Ick!
There's no third arm! You promised me a third arm! AAGGGGHHHH!!! :'(
Without the disclaimer, I wouldn't have read the comments. And without the comments, I wouldn't have known what "news" so many are talking about. These news haven't hitten the planet anywhere else besides Texas. (I'm from Germany.) And as this blog is read by people from all over the world, I don't see a reason to take it down, just because a small percentage of people see a distasteful coincidence. The only thing I can see is a three armed kid. Which is indeed distasteful!
You gotta stop apologizing! People are hyper-sensitive, insanely PC, and basically, whatever you say is going to offend SOMEONE. Yes, something terrible happened. The world kept on turning. This post was made BEFORE that incident, and there's no reason to be all bleeding-heart-OMFGCRYING-liberal over nothing. Maybe I'm insensitive, but this was clearly not intended as a malicious post, so don't apologize for doing what you do so well -- making us laugh!
I couldn't find the third arm until I read that what I see as a butt can be an arm! Funny!
Maybe these cakes were made as decoration?? Perhaps the REAL cake is just a plain old sheet cake with no baby to cut into?? I hope!
Politicallycorrectwrecks.
I've nowhere else seen people "offended" by cakes of all things.
RELAX.
Ok...I've read all the comments and just want to make two points:
1. love the blog. Hilarious. Check in most days and backtrack when i miss something.
2. some of your 'readers' are not from the USA so have no idea what news items you have or don't have. We may even have news items here that coincide in a good or bad way with one of your posts. The two are not related. One is a funny post about cakes. The other is a serious news item. What has happened today is unfortunate but unintentional. I wouldn't have even known there was an unfortunate news coincidence had i not seen Jen and John's wee note or read the many, many comments. So, please, keep some perspective when checking out this and any other blogs. If a news website ran Jen's story alongside their news item that would be distasteful (to say the least) but in this forum I think the reactions have been over the top.
Thanks, rant over :)
oops. should have read ALL the comments (seems there were more!). I have repeated what has already been said so don't feel you need to post either of my comments.
Thanks guys :)
As for people in Texas thinking the news is nationwide, there have been AP and news organizations in English and Spanish from national news units are here beyond our regular 4 tv outlets. Most sites had the story posted in either most popular links or in their US Nation news if not on the front page.
I'm from the area and I came here to giggle because this site raises my moods when I'm down. That being said, I'd remarked to my 12 year old that I knew there was a good chance with the way gruesome stories hit the timing when articles are pre-written; it happens all the time.
That being said, I think her note at the top should have been enough for anyone who might have been concerned or had the potential to be upset by seeing such photos after knowing the news story details. I think the note was enough and those who were offended have said their piece without being total dbags (though I am sure some comments are deleted). For those who say to those to get over it or those whining for the post to be removed, remember everyone is different and their triggers are different. Show each other the respect you would if you were dealing with a loved one and realize that people can disagree yet continue to like a similar subject.
Again, love the blog and am a person who for years paid for bad wrecks on purpose because this one company made such tasty cakes. I am trying to dig out some photos to send in.
Dead Baby Cakes....Cool...I'll pass my piece to someone else.
I keep trying to see this third arm, but I only see two. What part of the cake is being seen as the third arm? I mean that seriously!
Okay I have a solution Jen and John: Before you post any cakes I think you should check all world wide news casts.On TV, Satelite, internet, radio etc. etc. etc. It will only take about 23 1/2 hours out of your day. No big deal You'll still have 1/2 hour to write the blog.When will you Sleep you say?
Really...do you think you'll want to sleep after you hear all the monstrosities that go on in the world.
But think of how responsible you'll appear to your readers! Think of the love from your adoring fans! Think of the accolades! you'll hold your head high above the masses!
See - simple solution! Really why didn't you guys think of that? Phsssssh! LOL
In the end, Jen’s assertion is correct. There's nothing like an anatomical conundrum to make the baby cake go down easier.
Life imitating art anyone? First the horse blog, now this...unfortunate timing, definitely! Great blog, however!
For the longest time, I could not think of what news story you were talking about, but I don't think you should have to pull your post. I still think it's hilarious, just bad timing. It was nice of you to put up the apology. Keep writing such funny stuff, I love it.
Thank you for not pulling the post. I'm very sorry to say that I would have more reason than most to be offended (my infant nephew was murdered last year). And, you know what? I'm offended that my nephew died violently. I'm offended that that crazy Texan did unspeakable things to her baby. I AM NOT OFFENDED BY THE FUNNY CAKES.
Thank you for the joy you bring into my days, Jen. (And John, too!)
There are a lot of comments and I confess I haven’t read them all so if someone has already said this I apologize.
Jen’s original point was that realistic baby cakes are, at best, creepy. Obviously a valid point in light of the shocking news story with which the Cake Wrecks post unfortunately coincided. While Jen and John took some uncomfortable heat yesterday, I can only imagine how wretched I would feel if I had to deliver a realistic baby cake, on which I had worked long and hard, following a news story like the one that came to light yesterday.
Cake Wrecks has done yet another service to the cake decorating community by demonstrating that realistic baby cakes, no matter how cute, are still wrong; so very, very wrong. Decorators, ignore this fact at your own peril.
Thanks Cake Wrecks for entertaining, educating, and showing some back bone. You guys rock!
Looks like three arms to me!
I agree with what many people on here have said in support --- it's not your fault that a real event happened to coincide with the FUNNY post you put on your blog.
As far it being your responsibilty to not insult your readers --- um, last I checked a blog is written from one person's perspective and opinion. If you don't like it, stop reading it, but don't attack the author or demand they remove something/warn readers about a post. It's not hard-hitting journalism here, it's a site dedicated to making people laugh at CAKES. For those who have unfortunate personal events that these cakes conjured up memories of, that's not CW's fault and not their intention. If you see the post is about something you don't like navigate away from it, no one is forcing you to read it.
Have a little perspective and be nice -- I don't think the post needs to removed. And while I think it's terrible what happened in TX, I was still able to laugh at the pictures of the cakes on here.
Mission accomplished, Cakewrecks.
Becky
My mom keeps CNN on in the background pretty much all day, and I have come to hate the news. But, if they reported on that event everyone is talking about, it must not be as important to them as MJ's death or the President saying the word "stupidly", because I didn't hear about it. Not until reading the comments on this blog. I support the decision to not take down the post. Crazy, sick people do crazy, sick things all over the world every day. Sure, this post is about people eating cake babies. So? it's also about how disgusting and wrong that is. Sure, it's comedy. So laugh, people.
Oh, and if you have to put a warning at the top of every blog post so people's sensibilities aren't offended, the disclaimer for this one should be:
WARNING: Cake, babies, kiwis, strawberries, questionable anatomy, flowers, prepubescent nakedness, bling, sunglasses, and Chinese characters
Come on, people. Don't be ridiculous.
Yes, buttcrack, arm, and all that...But the thing that gets me is - are those kiwis on the #1 on the cake? Gross. Good thing no one noticed while trying to figure out the arm/buttcrack dilemma.
P.S. First time reviewer here! Love the blog, keep the daily hilarity coming.
The third arm is its butt.
I just want to give my sympathies to the person who has to read THE SAME COMMENT over and over again. You're a stronger person than I am :)
I could not for the life of me see this supposed 3rd arm. However, when I put my finger over the arm sprouting out of his chest, I finally saw it. When you look at it this way, the baby's butt does look like an arm he has tucked down the back of his pants.
The other difference between this post and the horse post is that the horse post included a decapitated head cake. Ya know, like in The Godfather. This doesn't have any (intentionally) "death" cakes...
And Lora - you said it! :)
No, you're not crazy. There's only 2 arms and a baby butt crack. :)
Dang. How many people really needed to point out the arm vs. butt crack thing? You'd think after the first 15, people would have stopped... Sadly, not so.
I don't think I'd be rushing to eat any of those cakes.