Biden’s Embrace of ‘Flamin’ Hot’ Director Eva Longoria Usurps Film Screening

President Biden Hosts White House Screening of Eva Longoria’s Film

President Joe Biden on Thursday hosted a White House screening of actress Eva Longoria’s new film about the invention of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, describing it as “exactly what the Hispanic American community embodies.”

Longoria directed the film with the same name as the famous snack product, which is based on the story of Frito-Lay janitor Richard Montanez who claims he invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. However, an investigative piece in the Los Angeles Times dated May 16, 2021, has since disputed Montanez’s story. There was no public mention of that, however, by either Biden, his wife First Lady Jill Biden who also attended, or Longoria during Thursday’s event on the White House south lawn.

What did make headlines in several online publications was video showing Biden putting his hands on Longoria before the actress pulled his hands away. In the clip that has since gone viral, Biden is seen sharing a hug with Longoria with his hands appearing to come close to the actress’s breast at the end of the embrace.

Frito-Lay Disputes Montanez’s Story

According to the Times story, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos was actually created by a team at the Frito-Lay headquarters in Plano, Texas, as a snack product meant to rival other such food items in the Midwest. The story included testimonies from former Frito-Lay employees as well as reports from the company’s own 2018 internal investigation over the matter.

The company, which is the current subsidiary of PepsiCo, also warned the movie’s filmmakers that it couldn’t corroborate Montanez’s version of events before production began on the film. That’s despite the movie featuring a title card at its ending asserting that it’s based on a “true story.”

On Thursday, with hundreds of people present including members of the cast, members of Congress and leaders of the Latino community, a mariachi band played on the Blue Room balcony prior to the screening. That’s as Biden told the crowd it was the first White House screening of a film focused on Hispanic characters.

“When I think about tonight’s movie, I think about courage. So many of you, your ancestors left behind all that they knew to start a new life in the United States,” said Biden, who announced in April that he is running for a second presidential term and that Hispanic Americans are a core part of the Democratic Party base.

Jill Biden said Montanez helped to change the way companies see Latino customers.

“This film isn’t just about Richard,” said Mrs. Biden. “It’s about everyone who has been overlooked or underestimated.”

Longoria’s Impact