In just a few days, the “Chewbacca Mom” video has gone all kinds of viral, breaking 140 million views and landing the woman (real name Candace Payne) on the couch of The Late Late Show.
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Payne said she headed to a Kohl’s department store in search of yoga trousers Thursday when she brushed the Chewbacca mask by mistake.
As of Monday morning, the video has been viewed over 136 million times on Facebook, shattering the record of most views for a Facebook Live recording since the product launched in January 2016.
Now, a follow up video from the company that she bought the mask from, Kohl’s, has won them some rather incredible PR as to thank her for being one of its customers, the company went out to Payne’s house and almost-literally showered her in toys. While Payne’s giggly video was entertaining to watch, it’s clear that her message – to enjoy the little, happy moments – really resonated with people, and comments flooded the Kohl’s Facebook page with support for Payne and her family. Payne’s kids excitedly accept the masks and Payne is stunned by the gift cards and points. He then pops on his own mask and proceeds to give her directions about how to be the best Chewbacca possible.
Chat shows have been understandably falling over themselves to have Candace on and last night she appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
However, someone who doesn’t seem to be enjoying the joke too much is James – instead of his usual position in the driver’s seat, the chat show host is sulking on the passenger side, and asks Candace whether they could get a move on any time soon. An appreciation for the small things in life, a talking Chewbacca mask, and an infectious belly laugh. Payne talks about posting the video for her “friends on the Internet webs” and says her son will probably “confiscate this from me. confiscate, that’s a word, right?”
That said, this actually isn’t Payne’s first brush with Hollywood.
IF you haven’t heard of “Chewbacca Mum”, you are living under a rock because she is blowing up the internet.
“The mask is now sold out on Kohls.com, but shoppers wanting to take part in the fun can still purchase it at select Kohl’s stores across the country”, she told the magazine.
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“I like, had to breathe”, she said of her disbelief.
