Why The TikTok Community Loves Ocean Spray Right Now
It was the viral video we all needed. An Idaho Falls man films himself gliding down a highway on a longboard, drinking from a big plastic bottle of Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry juice, and lip-synching to Stevie Nicks on Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams."
The man, Nathan Apodaca, is all serenity and contentment, even as he glances over his shoulder to make sure no vehicles are coming at him (via Los Angeles Times). The video blew up, with more than 26 million views on TikTok.
TikTok users flooded the video with love in the comments. "I love him he's so vibey," one commenter wrote. "I wanna be you when I grow up," more than one person commented. Another gave Apodaca, known on TikTok as @420doggface208, the highest TikTok compliment possible: "This is honestly my favorite video of all time and nothing will ever change that."
Ocean Spray liked the video, too. It must have been good for the juice company's business — we know it was good for Fleetwood Mac. After all, Apodaca sent "Dreams" to the top of iTunes' song chart (via ABC News). As a thank you, Ocean Spray gave Apodaca a new, cranberry-red pickup truck filled with the company's products (via Los Angeles Times). That should take care of his car problems for a while. Apodaca said he drinks about one of those large Ocean Spray bottles a day, so he's sure to make use of the new truck's cargo, too.
TikTokers are copying the skateboard and cranberry juice trend
Apodaca's smooth moves have been repeated many times on TikTok in what's come to be known as the #doggfacechallenge. Ocean Spray is featured in many of these videos, but some people try to catch Apodaca's vibe with their own beverage of choice, like Gatorade Zero, Hennessy, even whipped cream. TikTok user @scrambledjam, a physical therapist who works in a urology clinic, used the challenge to educate about cranberry juice and bladder health. Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac fame joined in the fun, attracting 7.6 million TikTok views himself. And Tom Hayes, Ocean Spray CEO, shows off some respectable drinking-while-skating skills on what appears to be his first-ever TikTok post.
"Ocean Spray was humbled to gift Nathan with something of importance to him — a truck we knew he needed," Hayes said (via Los Angeles Times). "What a thrill to be part of a movement that is spreading so much positivity worldwide, especially during these unprecedented times."
After receiving Ocean Spray's gift, Apodaca — the man who for 20 seconds helped us forget our 2020 troubles — said he felt humbled, too. ""It's been a wild ride for sure, and I feel humbled to be putting out these good vibes for everyone right now."