First We Feast

First We Feast started in 2012 as a food blog under Complex Media, founded by Chris Schonberger. It quickly grew from a scrappy corner of the internet into a multi-platform media company, all thanks to one show: Hot Ones. The series, where celebrities eat increasingly spicy chicken wings while answering questions, became a cultural juggernaut. By 2024, the brand had 27 million followers across platforms, a line of bestselling hot sauces, and a prime-time game show on TruTV.

In December 2024, BuzzFeed sold First We Feast to a consortium that included Schonberger, host Sean Evans, Crooked Media, Mythical Entertainment, and Soros Fund Management for $82.5 million. The deal made the company independent, with Schonberger as CEO and Evans as Chief Creative Officer. They kept the entire team and doubled down on what works: authentic, funny, often messy conversations over wings.

Beyond Hot Ones, First We Feast produces shows like Hot Ones Versus, Heat Eaters with Esther Choi, and The Burger Show. Their hot sauce line, made with Heatonist, includes cult favorites like The Last Dab Xperience and Los Calientes Verde. The brand has won multiple Webby Awards, a James Beard Award, and a 2025 Critics Choice Award. It's a rare thing in media: a company that built a devoted fanbase around a simple, brilliant idea. [edit]