Rapper hijacks cookie brand's Facebook publicity stunt

(AFP/Robyn BECK)

Cookie brand Oreo, a division of Kraft foods, yesterday engaged in a Facebook publicity stunt to earn a place in the Guinness Book of Records by gaining 45,000 "likes" in 24 hours, but an American rapper decided to expose the ease with which the number could be reached.

Beginning at 9am ET (GMT-5) on February 15, Oreo attempted to gain a minimum of 45,000 new "likes" on social networking site Facebook in a 24-hour period.

The brand posted the following Facebook message to gather support among its fans: "?'Like' this post to join Oreo fans around the world in setting a Guinness World Record for most 'Likes' to a post in 24 hours. Oreo is the world's favorite cookie, and with your help, it will be the most 'Liked.'"

Though the resulting 'likes' will probably earn the brand a place in the record books, there was no previously existing record to break, the figure of 45,000 being set by officials at the Guinness Book of Records.

However Oreo's record-breaking attempt was hijacked by rapper Lil Wayne who aimed to show that the cookie brand was not aiming high enough and expose the ease in which the record could be broken.

The rapper posted a similar status on Facebook and received 75,000 "likes" within 15 minutes. At the time of writing (5:34 ET / 10:34 GMT), with over four hours left in the challenge, Oreo's post has received 113,024 "likes," while Lil Wayne has received 478,130.

In an unrelated piece of publicity, wrestling organization WWE announced the return of popular wrestler the Rock in the same 24-hour period and attracted 22,783 likes.

The top Facebook brands, by total number of fans, according to data from Famecount.com are:

01.   Coca-Cola
02.   Starbucks
03.   Oreo
04.   Red Bull
05.   Skittles  

Oreo: http://www.facebook.com/oreo
Lil Wayne: http://www.facebook.com/LilWayne