'Hot Ones' Host Sean Evans Says Tony Yayo Helped Refine the Show

Hot Ones host Sean Evans gives credit to Tony Yayo for helping refine the show’s original concept, turning it into the mega-hit it is now.

During a recent episode of Complex’s Idea Generation, Evans opened up about the original concept for the show—known for hot questions and even hotter wings—giving credit to a certain G-Unit rapper for helping turn the concept into a hit. Yayo was the show's very first guest in 2015.

“I think, originally, the idea was to be a swinging light, interrogation-type of interview where the guest is eating wings,” explained Evans before revealing that he wasn’t sure if he’d be eating wings with the interviewee. “We hadn't really worked out that part of it, but it was Tony who was like ‘No, you have to eat the wings.’ I think we were on the fence on that, and he was right.” 

“What self-respecting famous person is just going to come in and subject themselves to that while this guy’s off-camera peppering them with questions?” added Evans. “You know, even looking back on it, it’s so obvious. But yes, we can thank Tony Yayo for completing the Rubik’s cube of the Hot Ones format, for sure.”

Hot Ones has become one of the most popular ongoing interview series on the internet. It features the biggest stars eating hot wings and suffering as their throats become scorched pavement. On a recent episode, featuring Bad Bunny, the star tapped out of the show early after eating one too many spicy wings. 

Back in January, Benito appeared on the show and sounded nervous before a wing even hit a plate. “I should’ve talked to my doctor before doing this shit,” he murmured. 

Proceeding to not call his physician, Benito began eating. He got three wings into one with Elotes Loco sauce (that has a Scoville level of 26,500) when he started to feel the effects of what probably felt like the surface of the sun on his tongue. 

“It burns at the end, like fuck. It’s gonna fuck up my intestines,” he complained. “That’s what scares me. I’m not scared now because I’ll put that in my mouth and that [sensation] will pass. It’s my ass that’s gonna burst when it’s time to sit down.”

Bad Bunny eventually hopped out of the challenge before he could finish.