Newsletter: Viral Taco Bell prank: Funny or mean?

We crawl the web so you don’t have to.

Sign up for the Daily Dot newsletter to get the best and worst of the internet in your inbox every day.

Sign up now for free

Show me a sample newsletter first

Hello fellow web crawlers! Andrew here. Welcome to today’s edition of web_crawlr. 

I hope your weekend is off to a good start! Our top stories today are about: Why people aren’t OK with a man who went mega viral for pranking Taco Bell, a Bridgerton-themed ball that was such a disaster it’s being dubbed the new Wonka experience, five cruise ship horror stories that went viral, and why some supporters of Gov. Tim Walz are blasting him for a photo op with Alex Soros. 

After that, we’ve got a “Meme History” that covers something I’m sure you’ve seen in your timelines recently. 

P.S. — Did you take our weekly news quiz yesterday? If you didn’t, you still have time! Just open yesterday’s newsletter to answer the question. If you guess correctly, you’ll be entered to win one of our new “Click or Treat” sweatshirts. 

See you next week! 

— A.W. 

Today in Internet Culture

VIRAL
‘I feel bad for the workers’: Man breaks the internet pranking Taco Bell, but not all viewers are onboard

A TikTok and Instagram content creator has gone viral for relentlessly prank-calling fast-food chains—particularly Taco Bell. While his videos rack up millions of views, not everyone is laughing.

➤READ MORE

FAIL
‘Complete scam’: ‘Bridgerton’ Ball attendees flame janky event for raw chicken, lone pole dancer

A Bridgerton-themed ball that promised “an evening of sophistication, grace, and historical charm” left attendees disappointed and outraged. It’s being dubbed the new Wonka experience.

➤READ MORE

THE MORE YOU KNOW
‘Instant panic attack!!’: 5 cruise ship stories that will make you never want to leave the shore

We break down five cruise ship stories that will make you never want to leave the shore, all as seen via viral videos.

➤READ MORE

VIRAL POLITICS
Tim Walz’s own supporters blast him over Alex Soros photo: ‘Worst possible’ optics

Some supporters of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are arguing that his recent meeting with philanthropist Alex Soros wasn’t a smart move.

➤READ MORE

We crawl the web so you don’t have to. Sign up to receive web_crawlr, a daily newsletter from the Daily Dot, in your inbox each day.

By Kyle Calise
Video Producer

Meme History: Moo Deng

Meme History is a weekly column that dives deep into internet lore to uncover the history of famous memes. It runs on Saturdays in the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. If you want to get this column a day before we publish it, subscribe to web_crawlr, where you’ll get the daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.

Crawling the Web

Here is what else is happening across the ‘net.

In a viral video, a woman shared an easier way to make frozen pizza. The response from people online? “This is honestly the most genius thing ever.” 

This traveler caught American Airlines charging 200% more for the exact same flight he booked. 

A DoorDash driver recently vented on TikTok, revealing some of the more “unusual” stuff people order on the app and the awkward situations that follow.

Texas Roadhouse came under fire after a woman with tattoos said she was asked to wear long sleeves while bartending. 

Midwesterners, are you hot right now? Blame corn sweat for the humidity.

From the Daily Dot archive: Telegram is supercharging conspiracy theories across the planet.

Today’s Viral Video

Now that is impressive. Someone made a surfboard using 900 Lego pieces.