Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are beloved for many reasons other than just their taste. For years, the story of their invention has been inspiration for many, as it depicted Richard Montañez as a man who rose to prominence thanks to hit idea of making a spicy version of the popular snack. Now, Frito-Lay has admitted this story may not be true, and many are disappointed.
Richard Montañez has been telling the story of how he went from janitor to executive thanks to his Flamin’ Hot Cheetos idea for years, traveling around the country to inspire large audiences. However, recently an investigation discovered Montañez may not have been as involved as previously stated. “None of our records show that Richard was involved in any capacity in the Flamin’ Hot test market. We have interviewed multiple personnel who were involved in the test market, and all of them indicate that Richard was not involved in any capacity in the test market,” said Frito-Lay.
According to UPROXX, Montañez began making the claim during his work as a motivational speaker. The story was so popular; it is currently being made into a movie set to be directed by Eva Longoria. It seems that movie may now end up in the fiction category.