#PizzaRat trends worldwide after NYC rodent carries pizza down stairs

Today in perplexingly popular internet trends, video of a rat carrying pizza into New York City's subway system has prompted thousands online to declare their love for said rodent.

Video of a rat carrying a slice of pizza into New York City's subway system makes Twitter explode with praise

Lauren O'Neil CBC News Posted: Sep 21, 2015 7:48 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 21, 2015

By 4 p.m. ET Monday afternoon, #PizzaRat was trending on Twitter worldwide, as well as in both Canada and the U.S. (YouTube/Matt Little)

Today inperplexinglypopular internettrends, video footageof a rat carryingpizzainto New York City's subway system has prompted thousands onlineto declare theirundying love and admiration for saidrodent who may or may not beSplinter of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesfame.

The video above, entitled "New York City rat taking pizza home on the subway,"was uploaded to YouTubebyNYC-basedcomedian MattLittle on Monday.

A copy of the video was also posted to Little'sInstagramaccount at approximately 2 p.m. ET that same day with the caption "Master Splinter headed off to feed#TMNT."

Gawker appears to have been the first media outlet to report on Pizza Rat, just 40 minutes after the video hit Instagram. AnotherNew York-based blog, DNAinfo, was close behind and then came the flood ofjokes.

pizza rat is funny until u realize that pizza is all he has time to eat while working the 2 jobs needed to survive in nyc :(
—@desusnice

New York's hottest Halloween costume has arrived #pizzarat pic.twitter.com/AhWEPCcBbn
—@moneyries

so excited my ex-boyfriend has at last found internet fame #pizzarat
—@flahertykeely

Started from the bottom now the whole team here. #pizzarat pic.twitter.com/cIDiz6howI
—@_jlsl

Dear #PizzaRat, It doesn't last. Enjoy it while you can. Sincerely, Arizona llama
—@danprimack

By 4 p.m. ET Monday afternoon,#PizzaRatwastrending on Twitter worldwide, as well as in both Canada and the U.S. It continues to trend in all three markets as of 7 p.m. ET Monday evening, and some users continue to reportseeing "Pizza Rat" inFacebook's trending sidebar.

#PizzaRat. The No. 2 trend WORLDWIDE. And to think a pizza filled rat, poopin' all over the subway doesn't even know. pic.twitter.com/ErHwe7gSIV
—@sonicdork

@mathewi Well, #pizzarat is being reinforced aka promoted as a top Facebook "trending" story. pic.twitter.com/kps4WIpJRj
—@d1gi

A plane could disappear right now and no one would write about it because Media Twitter is dedicated to #pizzarat.
—@polly

If you're confused about why a pizza-carrying rat was trending higher than almost any other subject in the world today,you're not alone.

Some on Twitter aretrying to measurethe #PizzaRat hashtag against those related topolitics in an effort to make sense of it all.

My take: #PizzaRat and #BaeofPigs underscore our need for a theology that highlights the dignity of the animal kingdom. hit me up editors
—@ebruenig

when #AskTrump and #PizzaRat is trending at the same time pic.twitter.com/2ori4a8Wgs
—@NotAllBhas

One recalls a simpler time, like 90 minutes ago, when #PigGate was trending and #PizzaRat was not. http://t.co/BcKSQovuUE
—@mrtgr

But, unlikeRepublican presidential candidate Donald Trump's #AskTrumpcampaign, or the #PigGate and #BaeOfPigs hashtagsused to chroniclebizarrepig sexallegationsagainst British Prime Minister DavidCameron, pizza rat mania appears to be the sole productof Twitter having fun(and / or being bored.)

Naturally, asmall segment ofbrand Twitter has alreadytried to get in on the "conversation," using #PizzaRat to promote products, services and campaigns.

The tweets predicting this wereperhaps more poignant and funny than those about the pizza-loving rat itself.

Every pizza industry PR team currently having heated discussion about whether to associate the brand with a rat https://t.co/nTbxIxycSa
—@_cingraham

Has your #brand ca$hed in on the #PizzaRat frenzy today? If not, theres still time to reach in & grab a ~slice~ of the action for your biz!
—@krutzky

Please vote for my #SXSW panel, in which I present 10 Ways Your Brand Can Leverage #PizzaRat To Connect With Millennials
—@LiliaPeterson

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#PizzaRat trends worldwide after NYC rodent carries pizza down stairs

Video of a rat carrying a slice of pizza into New York City's subway system makes Twitter explode with praise

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