Sometimes the best way to make a point is to throw dessert at someone's face. Seriously.
Pie-throwing as political protest has a surprisingly long history.
Spanish bakers were apparently chucking pies at royal dinners back in the 1600s
to protest Habsburg policies, which honestly sounds like the most delicious
revolution ever.
But America really perfected the art. The modern pie-throwing movement
kicked off in 1969 when activist Jim Retherford smooshed a cream pie right into
UC Berkeley president Clark Kerr's face. And just like that, a beautiful
tradition was born.
The most famous pie incident happened in 1977 when gay rights activist
Tom Higgins delivered a pie to anti-gay crusader Anita Bryant during a press
conference. Bryant's response? "At least it was a fruit pie," before
bursting into tears and praying for the pie-thrower.
What makes pie-throwing so effective isn't the mess—it's the humiliation.
There's something deeply ridiculous about being covered in whipped cream and
custard that instantly makes even the most serious person look silly
The visual impact is incredible too. Early activists figured out that
pie-throwing created perfect photo opportunities. Each "hit" became a
viral moment, spreading the protesters' message far beyond the original
audience. The practice became so common that security had to start screening
for potential pie-throwers at public events.
Even The Three Stooges got in on the action, making pie fights a comedy
staple. Though Larry Fine later admitted the behind-the-scenes reality was gross—prop
crews would literally sweep pie goop off the floor, complete with nails and
splinters, to reuse it. Ouch.
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