* Crock-Pot on the defensive after faulty slow cooker causes character’s death on This Is Us
* Show creator has to tweet that it was, “a fictional Crock-Pot”
* Company assures viewers that current Crock-Pots are tested for safety and reliability
The show that has had everybody talking is stirring up some more conversation this week. This Is Us has caused a Crock-Pot controversy after the NBC drama seemingly revealed that main character Jack Pearson’s death was the fault of a faulty slow cooker.
In the much-hyped episode following the Super Bowl, Milo Ventimiglia’s character can be seen battling a fire — sparked by a Crock-Pot — which quickly engulfs the house. While he’s able to get out of the house — spoiler alert — he later passes away in the hospital. The character’s mysterious death has been a central storyline on the show, which recently took home a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.
This Is Us is also a huge hit with viewers, ranking as one of the most-watched shows on TV — and most streamed shows online.
The Crock-Pot reveal lit up the Internet, with viewers chiming in on social media with memes and comments about the company. It got so bad that the company had to respond to some commenters online.
“Jack Pearson was our Valentine so we equally understand your pain with his loss,” they responded to one concerned viewer. “We love him and we love you too. Don’t further add to our heartbreak by no longer using Crock-Pot Slow Cookers, rest assured our products have been generationally tested by your family and friends.”
The backlash also led This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman to make a statement himself: “Taking a moment to remind everyone that it was a 20 year old fictional crockpot [sp] with an already funky switch?” he tweeted. “Let’s not just lump all those lovely hardworking crockpots together.”
Related Stories
It’s safe to say the current Crock-Pot model won’t be causing any fires anytime soon. In fact, the Crock-Pot still ranks as one of Amazon’s best-selling items, with a 4.5-star rating across more than 2500 reviews.
Need more convincing to keep the Crock-Pot as your go-to cooker? It comes with three temperature settings that you control, plus it has stay-cool handles for easy transportation. A locking lid and locking system create a tight seal between the stoneware and lid to ensure contents don’t leak or spill.
This stainless steel 6-quart portable slow cooker is on sale right now for just $30. It makes enough to serve 7+ people and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. Our suggestion: get the Crock-Pot and before you sit down and watch This Is Us to see what actually happens to Jack. And maybe remind yourself to unplug it after too, just in case.