Is The Kool-Aid Man The Pitcher Or The Liquid?

That’s the question countless people have asked for generations as they analyze what is perhaps one of the most complex mascots to ever live.

For centuries, we’ve had “To be, or not to be?” and “What came first, the chicken or the egg?” — two vexing, monumental riddles that not only address their subject matter but also question all existence as well. Now, we can add another entry into the pantheon of great queries: “Is the Kool-Aid Man the pitcher or the liquid??”

The question was made famous by a cartoonist named Danny Santoro, who goes by the handle @pizzastrike. “I don’t think I’m the first one to ever think of it and I can’t quite remember where I got the idea from, but it’s one of those things that’s so general that I’m sure others have thought of it too,” he says. Regardless of where it started, Santoro explains that the question went viral in early 2020 thanks to his artwork. Before long, the trend evolved into a debate between millions of people online. Some were “Team Liquid,” some were “Team Pitcher,” but countless more wanted to have it both ways, with arguments like, “Are you your blood or your skin?” or “Are you your body or your soul?” Read on and get woke >