This Thursday, the White House will host a screening of Flamin’ Hot, a film about the purported origin story of Flamin' Hot Cheetos. The movie, directed by Eva Longoria, a prominent Democratic donor and supporter of President Biden, will be shown on the South Lawn in an event open to the press.
The film is based on the memoir of Richard Montañez, a former Frito-Lay janitor who claims to have invented the popular snack. However, Frito-Lay disputes Montañez's account, stating he did not create the Flamin' Hot Cheeto. This screening is the latest in a series of moves by Longoria to increase her political presence within the Democratic Party. She hosted the first night of the 2020 Democratic National Convention and actively campaigned for Biden. She also served as national co-chair for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.
Longoria co-founded the Latino Victory Fund in 2014, an organization focused on increasing Latino political representation. During the 2020 election cycle, the organization's PAC spent a significant amount in support of Biden's presidential campaign, according to Open Secrets. In May, Biden nominated Nathalie Rayes, the CEO of the Latino Victory Fund, as ambassador to Croatia.
Federal Election Commission data reveals that Longoria has personally contributed a substantial sum to Democratic candidates and groups between 2011 and 2020. This includes donations to the Hillary Victory Fund and groups affiliated with President Obama.
Longoria gained widespread recognition for her role in the television series Desperate Housewives. Flamin’ Hot premiered on Hulu and Disney+ on June 9th. A Los Angeles Times investigation, based on Frito-Lay archives and interviews with former employees, found no evidence to support Montañez's claim of inventing the Flamin' Hot Cheeto.
