Connor Gaydos, a man linked to a parody project aiming to relaunch the energy company Enron and appoint him as its new CEO, was struck in the face with a pie this week as he entered a building in New York City.
The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media Thursday. The footage shows Gaydos stepping out of an SUV just moments before an older man hits him with the pie, while two bodyguards rush to intervene.
This odd event echoed a similar one from over two decades ago, when a California woman threw a pie at Enron’s then-CEO, Jeffrey Schilling.
Earlier this month, a group revealed plans to bring back the scandal-ridden Texas company, exactly 23 years after its bankruptcy filing due to massive fraud.
“With a bold new vision, Enron will leverage cutting-edge technology, human ingenuity, and the spirit of adaptation to address the critical challenges of energy, sustainability, accessibility, and affordability,” the company declared in a press release that raised doubts about its authenticity.
The announcement was reportedly supported by billboards in the Houston area, a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle, and a promotional video touting the company’s return.
An investigation by Houston station KHOU uncovered a disclaimer on the company’s website that stated, “The information on the website is First Amendment-protected parody, represents performance art and is for entertainment purposes only.”
Many believe the company’s reemergence is simply a publicity stunt designed to promote cryptocurrency.
