A few 40oz. ‘Quenchers’, the Stanley insulated steel tumblers, remain at a Target store. (Brian van … [+]
The Stanley “Quencher” cup craze that dominated TikTok has turned sour, as Stanley fans are concerned that their limited-edition collectibles might be leaking lead.
Stanley cups have been willingly advertised by thousands of content creators for free on TikTok and Instagram, but that surge of attention has suddenly become corrosive to the brand.
What Is The Stanley Cup TikTok Trend?
A reusable water flask might not seem particularly exciting, but a blend of influencer-led marketing and genuine enthusiasm for the Stanley “Quencher” lead to a surge of Stanley fans earnestly discussing their favorite product on TikTok, showing off their add-ons and limited-edition colors, boosted via #WaterTok and #StanleyTok hashtags.
One viral TikTok showing the charred remains of a car fire with only a Stanley Quencher left intact (there was even ice inside the cup) further boosted the cult of cups; savvy Stanley CEO Terence Reilly responded to the video with a MrBeast-esque act of generosity, offering the TikToker a brand new car.
The trend walked a fine line between meme and marketing (a bit like the Grimace Shake), and sparked criticism, as commentators noted that the Stanley craze was encouraging overconsumption, and even shoplifting.
As is often the case on TikTok (and the internet in general), the hype cycle inevitably turned to backlash after word spread that the cups contained traces of lead.
Why Do People Think There’s Lead In Stanley Cups?
Last year, a viral video posted on TikTok showed a parent using an at-home lead test at the bottom of her child’s Stanley bottle, and the test was positive. Prior to the viral video, anti-lead activist Tamara Rubin posted about Stanley flasks and lead in her blog, Lead Safe Mama.
That video inspired others to test their cups, but the controversy was eclipsed by the popularity of the trend.
Now, a recent wave of videos showing positive lead tests has brought the lead concerns back into the discourse.
Is There Lead In Stanley Cups?
Technically, yes — Stanley cups do contain a lead pellet that seals the vacuum insulation at the base, reportedly a common manufacturing practice for vacuum-insulated water bottles.
Not all water cups use lead (Hydroflask is a notable exemption), but using lead is easier, cheaper and more common than not.
Stanley spokespeople have been quick to clarify that the liquid inside the cup cannot possibly come into contact with the lead pellet, and that the pellet is covered by a “durable stainless steel layer.”
The only risk of lead exposure would come from the bottom of the flask being damaged and coming into contact with skin. In that case, the damage would be covered by the company’s lifetime warranty.
According to the official website, all Stanley products are “FDA tested and approved, and all contact surfaces are guaranteed to be safe and BPS/BPA-free.”
The clarification sparked mockery on social media.
TikTok creators have been all over the news, reporting on the revelation.
The new Stanley trend is TikTokers administering at-home lead tests for their Stanley cups, and showing a positive result to the camera. While the accuracy of these videos is impossible to determine, the lead scare has poisoned the Stanley trend.
Stanley might be the first non-human “Milkshake Duck,” which is internet slang for a person who goes viral on a wave of positivity, only to experience backlash after their dirty secrets are uncovered by obsessive fans.
Stanley is not the only water bottle company that uses lead, but Stanley is under the magnifying glass of social media, and that laser focus of collective attention is beginning to scorch the company’s reputation.
Time will tell if Stanley survives this fire.