This Chocolate Prank Is Seriously Not Okay, And We Are Scarred For Life

How far would you go for a prank?  With a lot of thought and the promise of no hurt feelings, they can often be a lot of fun. But when they tamper with food — especially seasonal favorites — it can often be hard to trust again. Prankster Judy Brown, who tweets under the handle @mcjude, tricked her dad pretty well this year. While it was all in good fun, I’m not sure she’d be at the top of the holiday party guest list unless she came empty-handed.

Brown knows that her dad is a big fan of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. You probably know the ones — they’re creamy, round, hazelnut chocolates packaged in a popular gold foil. They’re especially prominent around the holidays, as they’re a step above chocolates you’d find throughout the year. Back in 2016, she replaced the actual chocolates with raw Brussel sprouts, as they’re approximately the same size. And well,  her dad was fooled.

Thinking he’d be biting into a delicious Ferrero Rocher, he managed to chomp into a much less delicious sprout. Brown says that it was for his own good, as he normally inhales the chocolates at an above-average speed.

She also made sure to note that her dad was good-natured, so he wasn’t completely mortified by the switcheroo.

Some of you out there may recall that in 2016 I played an excellent Christmas prank on my long-suffering Dad. It worked a treat. pic.twitter.com/srfaVgLF2J

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

In 2017, Brown left the chocolates alone. She noticed that her dad was still a little timid when approaching them, since hey — fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Last year I decided to play the long game & didn’t tamper with the confectionary: spooked by the year before, he would not touch a single Ferrero Rocher (which was great because he usually inhales them at 750mph) so there were Ferreros aplenty for the rest of us. I bided my time.

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

But this was the year for Round 2, as he’d be less likely to expect it.

Here’s the catch. This year would be way, way worse.

And so, yesterday, home for Christmas and with the devil at my elbow, I embarked on my most audacious sprout prank yet. pic.twitter.com/zr24u6Ve0g

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

While he was out I dipped the sprouts in chocolate, rolled them in chopped hazelnuts, and did all I could to replicate the iconic Ferrerro. pic.twitter.com/UgvLOXeXWJ

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

I re-wrapped and (this is crucial) re-sealed the box with its original tape and a tiny dab of glue. Then secreted it amongst a bag of tasty gifts from my Aunt and retired to watch from afar pic.twitter.com/hkIThpvByI

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

You read that right. She actually went ahead and made the outside of the sprout look like a Ferrero Rocher, so that her father would assume it was the actual thing. It’s clever, but it’s also a little cruel. And if you’ve ever had the joy of tasting a Ferrero Rocher, you’d know why.

Last night he viewed them with suspicion when they came out the bag... but I was out all day, how could I have tampered with them? He abstained and they sat in the kitchen all night.

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

This bright Christmas morning we were gathered round the tree, drinking tea and opening presents. Dad eyed the box. He quite likes a post-brekkie Ferrero. He approached. I hovered in the kitchen, careful not to spook him.

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

And Lo! He opened. He EXAMINED. He unwrapped. He examined FURTHER. Fears allayed, he popped the whole thing in his mouth. His face played a symphony of emotions: satisfaction, triumph, smugness, consternation, confusion, realisation, horror, disgust.

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

I am still chuckling. I will all day long. I know his retribution will be swift and terrible, but no Christmas gift could be greater than this: seeing my Dad, despite his efforts to avoid it, unwittingly eat a raw sprout. Merry Christmas, one and all. pic.twitter.com/RYV6pvYqbe

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 25, 2018

Poor guy. Duped again. After two bad experiences, who knows if he’ll be tempted to touch chocolate ever again.

Some have dubbed Brown an “evil genius” for her prank.

I’ve never been called evil genius by so many people! Glad to have spread some sprouty seasonal lols 😂 The situation hasn’t escalated...yet.

(Any articles on this have been done after donations to @Shelter - if, like me, you have a conscience to salve then they’re pretty great)

— Judy Louie Brown (@mcjude) December 26, 2018

This is fantastic. Unspeakably cruel, but fantastic.

— Matt Marta (@mjm_mn) December 25, 2018

I never want to have to count you amongst my enemies. Ever.

— Yamazuya (@Yamazuya) December 25, 2018

But really, it can be a little dangerous to mess with food. So if you try this at home, make sure it’s someone who’d appreciate the joke and is free from any specific food allergies.

And also, if it’s someone’s first time tasting a Ferrero Rocher, make sure it’s not a traumatic one. For some, they’re the real reason to look forward to the season.