Richard Montañez Sues PepsiCo Over Flamin' Hot Claims

Richard Montañez, a former PepsiCo executive, has filed a lawsuit against the company, claiming defamation and fraud after they denied his role in inventing Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Once celebrated for his journey from janitor to vice president, Montañez alleges that PepsiCo's recent claims have harmed his reputation and career as a motivational speaker, even leading to the cancellation of a documentary about his life. He asserts that he created the spicy flavor inspired by elote after experimenting with unflavored Cheetos in 1977, eventually pitching the idea to then-CEO Roger Enrico in 1991. However, a Los Angeles Times investigation disputes his claims, suggesting that the flavor was developed by a team in Texas, leading to a public relations shift from PepsiCo. The lawsuit filed in California Superior Court seeks to address these allegations of racial discrimination and unfair competition. PepsiCo has declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.