The Little Lad’s Legacy: 5 Reasons Why Berries And Cream Starburst Is The Internet’s Most Obsessed-Over Candy

As of December 18, 2025, the Starburst Berries and Cream flavor remains one of the most talked-about, yet frustratingly unavailable, candies in modern snack history. Released nearly two decades ago, this soft, creamy taffy was a distinct departure from the classic, tangy Starburst, offering a smoother, more dessert-like experience. While the candy itself was discontinued years ago, its legacy has been cemented not by its taste alone, but by a bizarre, catchy, and utterly unforgettable commercial featuring a character known only as the "Little Lad."

The true story of Berries and Cream Starburst is a fascinating case study in viral marketing and pop culture resurrection. The flavor, originally part of the "Fruit & Creme" line, might have faded into obscurity like many limited-edition sweets. Instead, a 2007 television spot was inexplicably revived on TikTok in 2021, transforming the obscure candy into a global internet phenomenon and sparking a massive, ongoing campaign for its return to store shelves. This deep dive explores the flavor, the history, the Little Lad, and the intense fan demand that keeps this creamy chew alive.

The Cult of the Creamy Chew: What Was Berries and Cream Starburst?

The Berries and Cream variety of Starburst was first introduced around 2007, and it immediately stood out from the traditional Starburst portfolio. The original Starburst candies are famous for their bold, acidic, and intensely fruity tang. Berries and Cream, however, was designed to be a softer, smoother, and more sophisticated confection, aligning with the growing trend of "dessert" flavored candies.

• The One Where They Tanked Jokes 15 Shocking New Secrets From The Friends Tv Show Behind The Scenes G9zdh

A Unique Flavor Profile: Fruit & Creme Line

The Berries and Cream mix was part of a larger, short-lived "Fruit & Creme" family of Starburst flavors. This line was characterized by blending the fruit flavor with a creamy, vanilla-like base, which mellowed the acidity and provided a texture closer to a smooth taffy or a creamy yogurt. The specific flavors included in the Berries and Cream package were:

• Strawberries & Creme: Often described as tasting like a strawberry yogurt or a classic strawberry milkshake.
• Blueberries & Creme: A more unique and sometimes polarizing flavor, noted for its distinct, soft blueberry essence.
• Mixed Berries and Cream: A blend that offered a general, pleasant berry medley with the signature creamy finish.

Unlike the Original Fruits (Cherry, Lemon, Strawberry, Orange), which are permanent fixtures, the Fruit & Creme line was a limited-edition release. The flavor was popular enough to be a memorable addition but ultimately did not secure a permanent spot in the Starburst lineup and was eventually discontinued, much to the dismay of its dedicated fanbase.

The Little Lad Dance: How a 2007 Commercial Became a 2021 TikTok Sensation

The true key to the Berries and Cream Starburst’s enduring fame is not the candy itself, but the surreal, unforgettable commercial that accompanied its 2007 launch. This commercial introduced the world to the "Little Lad," a character whose bizarre appearance and catchy song became an instant, if niche, cultural phenomenon.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

The commercial features a man dressed in an anachronistic, pageboy-style outfit, complete with a bowl-cut wig. The character, who refers to himself as the "Little Lad," performs a strange, repetitive dance while singing a simple, maddeningly catchy tune: "I'm a Little Lad who loves berries and cream!" The advertisement was intentionally designed to be quirky and memorable, but its initial run in 2007 only achieved cult status.

The character of the Little Lad was played by actor Jack Ferver, who later became a well-known choreographer and performance artist. Despite the commercial’s initial run fading, the memory of the "Berries and Cream" song and dance lingered in the back corners of the internet for over a decade.

The 2021 TikTok Revival and Cultural Impact

In the fall of 2021, the obscure commercial was rediscovered and re-uploaded on TikTok, where it exploded into a viral trend. The simplicity of the "Little Lad Dance" and the sheer absurdity of the song made it perfect fodder for the platform’s remix culture.

• The Unseen Story Jessica Simpsons Battle For Privacy And Body Image In A Digital Age Mlvqa

The trend saw millions of users creating their own versions of the dance, remixing the song, and using the "Berries and Cream" audio for a wide variety of unrelated meme content. The sheer scale of the revival was unprecedented for a discontinued product, transforming a forgotten candy into a mainstream topic of conversation almost 15 years after its debut. The trend proved that a strong, unique, and slightly cursed piece of advertising can have a shelf life far longer than the product it was meant to sell.

Will Berries and Cream Starburst Ever Return?

The massive viral popularity of the "Little Lad" trend led to an immediate and overwhelming demand from consumers for Starburst to bring back the Berries and Cream flavor. The phenomenon presented Mars Wrigley, the parent company of Starburst, with a unique marketing opportunity: a built-in, pre-viral marketing campaign for a product they hadn't produced in years.

Fan Campaigns and Starburst's Response

The internet was flooded with petitions, social media campaigns, and direct appeals to the brand using hashtags like #BringBackBerriesAndCream. While the company has not yet committed to a full-scale, permanent re-release of the original candy, they have certainly acknowledged the trend and leveraged the cultural moment.

In a direct nod to the viral trend, Starburst released official "Little Lad" Halloween costumes in 2021, allowing fans to fully embody the character. This move satisfied the demand for merchandise related to the meme but left the core desire—the candy itself—unfulfilled.

The situation highlights a key challenge for food and beverage companies: balancing the high cost and logistical complexity of restarting production for a limited-run item against the guaranteed, but potentially short-lived, enthusiasm of a viral trend. While many fans hold out hope for a future limited-edition run (perhaps a "Little Lad Edition"), the flavor remains a legendary, discontinued item.

The Topical Authority of Discontinued Candies

The Berries and Cream Starburst phenomenon has cemented its place in the pantheon of beloved, discontinued snacks, alongside other legendary items like Crystal Pepsi or the original Ecto Cooler. The mystique surrounding a flavor that is no longer available only increases its perceived value and desirability. This perpetual demand ensures that "berries and cream starburst" remains a high-traffic search term, driven by both nostalgia and the curiosity of those who missed the 2007 release.

The story of this creamy chew is a testament to the power of internet culture. A simple, sweet flavor from the mid-2000s, paired with a bizarre commercial, has achieved a level of fame and cultural relevance that few modern marketing campaigns can match. Whether it ever returns or not, the Berries and Cream Starburst is guaranteed to live on forever in the endless loop of the Little Lad Dance.