The impact of Lucas's video was immediate and overwhelming. Within 24 hours, the Uber Eats app saw its user base skyrocket, with downloads reaching nearly five hundred thousand.
The Uber team was caught off guard by the sudden influx, having underestimated the power of Lucas's influence.
While the app was only operational in New York and Los Angeles, tens of thousands of users in these cities began placing orders right away. The unexpected volume put a strain on the system, leading to a series of technical hiccups.
Social media was soon abuzz with mixed reactions. Many praised the convenience and variety offered by Uber Eats, sharing their positive experiences:
"Just tried #UberEats and my food arrived in 20 mins!"
"Finally, a food delivery app that actually works. Thanks @LucasXKnight for the rec!"
However, others voiced their frustrations with the overloaded system:
"Been waiting an hour for my order. So much for quick delivery. #UberEatsFail"
"App keeps crashing. Can't even place an order. Fix this!"
The Uber team, realizing the potential PR disaster, quickly sprang into action. They released a statement across all their social media platforms:
"We're thrilled by the overwhelming response to Uber Eats! We're experiencing higher than anticipated demand, which has led to some technical issues. Our team is working around the clock to resolve these problems. We appreciate your patience and look forward to serving you better. Stay tuned for updates!"
This proactive approach from Uber seemed to calm some of the frustrated users, though others remained skeptical. Comments on social media ranged from understanding to impatient:
"At least they're being transparent about the issues. I'll give them another shot."
"Talk is cheap. Let's see how fast they can actually fix this."
Behind the scenes, Uber was scrambling to address the surge in demand. Their solution was multi-faceted: reaching out to more restaurants for partnerships, recruiting additional delivery drivers, and beefing up their server capacity.
In the 48 hours following the app's launch, a fascinating trend emerged. While tens of thousands of users were ordering food through the app, there was also a significant uptick in people signing up to be delivery drivers.
The gig economy aspect of Uber Eats was taking off, providing flexible job opportunities to those who needed them.
Social media was soon filled with stories from new Uber Eats drivers:
"Just made $100 in 3 hours delivering for #UberEats. Not bad for a side hustle!"
"Lost my job last month. Uber Eats is helping me pay the bills while I job hunt. Thank you!"
This unexpected benefit of job creation added a positive spin to the app's rocky start. News outlets began picking up on the story, running headlines like:
The Wall Street Journal published an article titled: "Lucas Knight's Not-So-Subtle Marketing: A Boon for the Gig Economy?"
CNBC ran a segment discussing the financial implications: "From Silver Screen to Silicon Valley: How Lucas Knight's Uber Eats Promo is Boosting Local Economies"
Forbes featured an analysis: "The Lucas Effect: When Star Power Meets Smart Marketing"
On social media, the debate was heating up. Twitter was abuzz with opinions:
@MasterGoogle tweeted: "Let's be real, this worked because it's Lucas Knight. Any other celeb and it would've flopped. #LucasEffect"
@Lucas_Fanatic101 replied: "Disagree. It's not just fame, it's smart marketing. The video was relatable and didn't feel like an ad. That's why it worked."
Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly stirred the pot with a provocative headline: "Is Lucas Knight Quitting Hollywood for the Business World?"
***
Liza wiped the sweat from her brow as she finally caught a moment's breather. The kitchen was a flurry of activity, with orders pouring in non-stop since the morning. She leaned against the counter, shaking her head in disbelief.
"I swear, I'll never underestimate that man's star power again," she muttered to herself. "One video and suddenly everyone in New York wants to order from the app."
With a wry smile, she pulled out her phone and fired off a quick message to Lucas:
"Thanks to you, I'm working my ass off here. My poor feet haven't had a break all day!"
Lucas's reply came almost instantly: "Hehe, you're welcome. That's what friends are for, right? 😉"
Liza couldn't help but chuckle, even as she rolled her eyes. "Cheeky bastard," she muttered affectionately.
Just then, another barrage of order notifications pinged on her tablet. Liza groaned, but there was a hint of a smile on her face. "Well, I guess I can't complain about good business," she sighed, tucking her phone away and rolling up her sleeves.
As she headed back into the fray, Liza made a mental note to thank Lucas properly later - maybe with a nice bottle of wine. Or better yet, she'd make him work a shift in her kitchen like it used to be in the past. That ought to wipe the smirk off his face.
***
Lucas collapsed onto the couch, wiping sweat from his brow after an intense workout with Simon and Jack. He pulled out his phone, curious about his social media stats.
"82 million followers on Twitter now," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else.
A few days ago, he might have felt a surge of excitement at the number. But after constantly monitoring his account's growth over the past couple of days, the thrill had faded. It all felt so... superficial.
"Maybe if I started from zero again, I'd actually feel something," he mused.
His eyes landed on the Vine app icon. He realized he'd never made an account on his own company's platform. "Huh, that's an idea. Could boost user numbers too."
Without overthinking it, Lucas quickly set up a new account, deliberately avoiding any connection to his Twitter following. He gestured to Simon and Jack.
"Hey guys, let's make a quick video about our workout."
The resulting clip was simple: just the three of them chatting about exercise benefits. Lucas uploaded it without fanfare.
His follower count sat at a lonely zero, but within minutes of posting, the video racked up hundreds of loops. Comments started appearing:
"Is this LK for real???"
"No way, Lucas Knight on Vine!"
Lucas couldn't help but grin. Starting from scratch felt oddly refreshing, even if his fame meant 'scratch' lasted all of a few minutes.
Within an hour of Lucas posting his first Vine, Twitter exploded with the news. Users were buzzing about Lucas's new account:
"Lucas Knight is on Vine as 'HappyClown'! This is not a drill! 🚨"
"Love the username! 'HappyClown' - is he hinting at a new role? 🤔"
The Vine app's download numbers skyrocketed, and Lucas's follower count hit twenty thousand in a matter of minutes. It was as if his entire Twitter following had migrated en masse to Vine.
Major media outlets couldn't ignore the phenomenon. The New York Times ran an article titled: "Lucas Knight: The Social Media Midas Touch"
CNN featured a segment discussing Lucas's impact: "How Lucas Knight is Redefining Celebrity Influence"
Vanity Fair published a piece analyzing Lucas's appeal: "The Lucas Effect: Why Gen Z Can't Get Enough of Hollywood's Golden Boy"
The Guardian took a more critical approach: "Is Lucas Knight's Social Media Dominance a Testament to Talent or a Symptom of Celebrity Worship?"
Each outlet seemed to have a different take on Lucas's social media success. Some praised his ability to connect with younger audiences, while others questioned the societal implications of his overwhelming influence.
---
As Lucas finally made it through the throng of fans at the airport and arrived at the studio, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. The production team greeted him warmly, but his eyes immediately locked onto J.K. Simmons.
J.K. stepped forward, extending his hand with a warm smile. "It's an honor to meet you, Lucas. I'm a big fan of your work, especially in '127 Hours' and '50/50'."
Lucas shook his hand, feeling a bit star-struck himself. "Thanks, that means a lot coming from you. I saw your performance in the 'Whiplash' short film. You were absolutely terrifying as Fletcher."
J.K. chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I'm not nearly as scary in real life. I save all that for the camera."
Lucas couldn't help but laugh. "I've got to admit, I was a bit nervous about meeting you after seeing that performance."
"The feeling's mutual, believe it or not," J.K. confessed, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's not every day you get to work with Lucas Knight."
Lucas felt himself relax, laughing softly. "Well, I guess we're both just a couple of nervous actors then?"
As Lucas and J.K. were chatting, Damien appeared. "Oh, you guys have met already. Great!"
Lucas turned to greet him with a grin. "Hey Damien, good to see you again."
Damien nodded, seeming more at ease with Lucas now. "You too, Lucas. Glad you made it through the airport gauntlet in one piece."
They made their way to a conference room, where Damien laid out some plans on the table. "So, we've got some good news. We've secured the Palace Theatre in downtown Los Angeles for our main shooting location. It's perfect - we'll be using it for both the exterior shots of the music school and some of the interior scenes."
He looked between Lucas and J.K. "I was thinking, since you two are the heart of this film, maybe you'd like to spend some time there before we start shooting? You know, get a feel for the space, run through some scenes together. Really build that student-teacher dynamic."
Lucas nodded understandingly. "That's natural. I'm all for it."
J.K. chimed in with a playful smile, "I've gotta say, I half expected you to have some fancy Hollywood method that didn't involve all this prep work. You know, just show up on set and dazzle us all with your talent."
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm not like that at all. I may have a few blockbusters under my belt, but at the end of the day, I'm just an actor trying to do good work."
J.K. nodded approvingly. "Glad to hear it. I was worried I'd have to give you the 'respect the craft' speech."
Damien looked relieved, glancing between the two actors. "Well, it looks like you guys are already building some chemistry. This is going to be great."