There’s something refreshing about the sound of an ice cream truck on a hot summer day. Where it’s of the traditional variety or something more small-batch in its origins, one thing remains constant: this is a truck that will sell you ice cream on a hot day, and that’s amazing. Sometimes, that can be a game-changing experience, providing blessed relief from a day of otherwise miserable heat and humidity.
But if you go a certain truck in Los Angeles seeking ice cream, you might end up paying a little bit more than expected — that is, if you were hoping to get your ice cream for free.
Joe Nicchi is the proprietor of CVT Soft Serve, a popular ice cream truck in Los Angeles. Recently, he’s had to deal with a number of requests from Instagram influencers asking for free ice cream in exchange for them posting photos of it on their social media presences. Nicchi’s response? He posted a photo of himself holding a sign saying “INFLUENCERS PAY DOUBLE,” which quickly went viral.
The text accompanying the image makes his policy pretty clear, as well as his reasons for posting it.
We truly don’t care if you’re an Influencer, or how many followers you have. We will never give you a free ice cream in exchange for a post on your social media page. It’s literally a $4 item…well now it’s $8 for you.
“We’re the anti-influencer influencers,” he said in an interview with The Guardian.
Is there something ironic about a post opposing influencer culture itself going viral? Probably. Then again, it wouldn’t be 2019 without at least a little irony. And it doesn’t hurt that CVT Soft Serve’s ice cream looks utterly delicious.
Editor’s Note: RealClearLife, a news and lifestyle publisher, is now a part of InsideHook. Together, we’ll be covering current events, pop culture, sports, travel, health and the world. Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Join America's Fastest Growing Spirits Newsletter THE SPILL. Unlock all the reviews, recipes and revelry — and get 15% off award-winning La Tierra de Acre Mezcal.
