Giannis Antetokounmpo protests Wingstop's latest tweet over hot honey wings: "Who do I have to call?"
Milwaukee Bucks star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo may have a sponsorship deal in his future after passionately coming to the defense of Wingstop's hot honey wings on Monday. When the restaurant chain teased the removal of his beloved flavor, Antetokounmpo decided to speak up.
"What is this!?!? Who do I have to call to get you to change your mind," he tweeted from his X account, @Giannis_An34.
His cry was quickly read by the Wingstop account, which replied, telling him to reach out with an emoji of a cell phone.
The dry rub wings — that's right, a hot honey dry rub, not a sticky sauce — were returned to menus in February after last being served in July 2023. And while it relaunched for a "limited time" on Valentine's Day, it's still being served at locations.
"Fans have boldly declared their love and fandom for Hot Honey Rub," Wingstop wrote on its website upon the re-release of the flavor.
The dry rub doesn't carry the same heat as its spiciest flavors, but its moderate burn mixed with the sweetness of the honey makes it one of the more complex offerings on the menu.
Fans push Antetokounmpo to seek collaboration
Many fans responded in support of the former MVP's surprise passion for the wing, and some offered good advice if he wants to do all he can to keep the dry rub on the menu.
While some users pointed out that Antetokounmpo may have the funds to be able to purchase a fair share of Wingstop, multiple users suggested a more practical approach of reaching out to rapper-turned-businessman Rick Ross. Ross fell in love with Wingstop's signature lemon pepper flavor in Atlanta in 2011, and he's been purchasing franchises ever since. In 2021, he even purchased one to give to his son for his 16th birthday.
Ross has been nearly synonymous with the Wingstop brand and has been a large part of its growth over the last decade. If anyone has some pull within the restaurant chain's operations, it might just be him, and we may see a commercial with the two of them and the hot honey wings in the future.
Antetokounmpo gearing up for first Olympics
Antetokounmpo scored 23 points in an Olympic-qualifying game against Croatia on Sunday to secure one of the final remaining spots in the 2024 Paris Olympics pool.
It's the first Olympic berth for the basketball team since 2008. He'll join his brother, Kostas Antetokounmpo, in Paris, for the team's first game against Spain on July 27.