Father of Walmart Ice Cream Licker Says He Did It for Facebook ‘Likes’

'It took off, it got 50,000 views already'

Blue Bell ice cream in a file photo. (Orlin Wagner/AP Photo)

The father of a Texas man who was captured on video licking a tub of Blue Bell ice cream revealed the reason why: Facebook “likes.”

According to ABC13 in Houston, the father of the man, “Dapper Don” on Facebook, licked the ice cream and returned to gain traction on the social media website. The video had thousands of shares and comments along with tens of thousands of views on the platform.

The report said “Don” and his father, who was not named, went back to the Walmart in Port Arthur and showed the receipt for the ice cream.

The man had purchased the ice cream and didn’t leave it in the freezer, KFDM reported.

Walmart said in a statement to the station: “We were able to check the surveillance footage and it does look like the customer ended up purchasing that tub of Ice Cream. That being said we do take this kind of thing seriously so if anyone does tamper with product in our store and they do leave it on the shelf, then we will work with Law Enforcement to identify who that is, and go from there.”

Police in Port Arthur said an investigation is underway.

“We take it very, very seriously. I know the district attorney takes it very seriously. So hopefully in the next 24 hours, we‘ll have all our evidence gathered, and we’ll walk it over to the district attorney’s office,” said Detective Mike Hebert.

On Facebook, however, users weren’t happy with “Don’s” attempt at a prank.

“I been done with blue bell after the second video of randoms licking ice cream popped up online,” one person wrote.

Another said, “It dont matter receipt or not he did this inside the store before purchasing it anyone doing this stuff needs to be arrested.”

A third replied, “I don’t see the funny part of this it looks really ignorant and childish.”

Port Arthur Police Department contacted “Don” three hours after he posted the clip on Facebook. He was able to provide a receipt for the purchase of the ice cream, 12 News Now reported.

“I trolled all Southeast Texas,” the man told 12 News. “It took off, it got 50,000 views already,” he said.

But he said that the views drew threats.

“Just saying they are going to beat me up and try to find me,” said Don. “They’re going to lick my address and stuff like that.”

Blue Bell also issued a statement about the matter.

“The safety of our ice cream is our highest priority, and we work hard to maintain the highest level of confidence of our customers. We view the tampering of our products very seriously,” Blue Bell spokesperson Jenny Van Dorf said.

It comes weeks after a teenage girl and a Louisiana man were investigated for similar stunts involving Blue Bell ice cream.

Lenise Martin III told WVLA that it was a joke and a misunderstanding.

“It was a joke with no criminal intent or activity … but I was locked up with murderers and real criminals on maxim security,” said Martin in an interview with the news outlet last month, which showed him smiling and holding the ice cream.

Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office Commander Lonny Cavalier told CNN that Martin, who showed officials receipts to suggest that he had purchased the ice cream after licking it, wasn’t absolved of his crimes.

“Taking into consideration that he eventually purchased the same container is one thing,” Cavalier said. “However, he puts it on Facebook to gain this notoriety and at the end of the day, it gives other people ideas that are not the best interest of public health,” he added.

Last month, police in East Texas said that a teenager from San Antonio was identified as the suspect who took a container of Blue Bell ice cream, licked it, put the lid back on, and then placed it back in the shelf at an area Walmart.