Pitbull, the multi-million selling hip-hop artist, will stop at the small city of Kodiak, Alaska on his forthcoming tour, thanks to a little bit of internet mischief. In a promotion for Walmart and Sheets Energy Strips, the Miami rap star agreed to visit whichever Walmart received the most "likes" on its Facebook page.
David Thorpe, a writer for the Boston Phoenix, thought it would be funny to get the star to visit the most remote store possible, encouraging people to "like" the Walmart in Kodiak. The city - known as 'The Last Frontier' - has a population of just 6,100 though managed to garner 70,000 likes on Facebook. Walmart spokesman Sarah Spencer said the exact details of the trip are still being worked out, including whether it will be a one or two day appearance. While out on tour in Spain, Pitbull appeared in a YouTube video on Tuesday (July 17, 2012), admirably promising to stick to his promise, saying, "I heard that Kodiak, Alaska, has the most likes due to someone who thinks he was playing a prank.I said, `OK, great, this sounds really good.' You have to understand I will go anywhere in the world for my fans". Ferryboat or airplanes are relied upon for all commercial transport in and out of Alaska.
In an email to the Associated Press, Thorpe said he would try to attend the concert himself, though added that he had to "raise the funds to get to Kodiak on my own, since Pitbull's invitation doesn't include actually getting me there". Despite starting the campaign himself, Thorpe somewhat contradictorily added, "I guess my one regret is that everyone on the corporate side will probably spin this as a Big Social Media Win, which is kind of gross"