Connor Wood is finally addressing the Connor Wood 8th Avenue snub that turned a casual celebrity crush confession into a viral exchange with Jennifer Lawrence—and now into a limited-edition Smoothie King product. The Dancing With the Stars season 35 contestant has partnered with the smoothie chain to launch “Connor’s Paid Me No Mind Smoothie,” which debuted Thursday. The drink’s name directly references the Oscar winner’s playful comment about spotting Wood on 8th Avenue and feeling ignored.
The chain of events began when Wood named Lawrence as his celebrity crush during an interview with BuzzFeed Celeb. Lawrence later responded in a comment, saying she had seen him on 8th Avenue drinking a smoothie and that he had paid her no mind. The remark caught Wood off guard and quickly spread across social media, generating memes and widespread attention. That virality ultimately led to the Smoothie King collaboration.
Wood Breaks His Silence on the Viral Encounter
In a new video announcing the drink, Wood offered a lighthearted explanation for the moment that launched the memes. He said enough time had passed for him to address what happened on 8th Avenue that day, acknowledging that he had been distracted and preoccupied. He admitted that he missed his moment and dropped the ball.
But Wood made clear that his approach has changed. Holding his smoothie, he declared that this time he is paying attention, calling himself a changed man. He promised he will never fail to pay attention again, adding that his eyes are up, his mind is open and his body is nourished. The video also included additional shots of Wood looking alert while walking outside, and at one point a pedestrian recognized him and mentioned having seen him on 8th Avenue.
What’s Inside Connor’s Paid Me No Mind Smoothie
The collaboration is more than a punchline. According to the announcement, “Connor’s Paid Me No Mind Smoothie” contains 26 grams of protein and zero grams of added sugar per 20-ounce cup. It is made with whole strawberries and bananas, plus electrolytes to support hydration. The drink launched Thursday and is positioned as a playful response to the viral moment that made Wood’s smoothie habits a topic of conversation.
For Wood, the partnership represents a full-circle turn from being teased about missing Lawrence’s presence to having a product named after the incident. The episode has moved from a BuzzFeed interview to a Hollywood star’s comment to a nationwide smoothie launch, all centered on a brief, distracted encounter on a New York sidewalk.
From Viral Comment to Smoothie King Collaboration
The timeline of the moment is straightforward: Wood mentioned Lawrence as his celebrity crush, Lawrence commented about seeing him on 8th Avenue, and the internet responded with memes and viral posts. Smoothie King then worked with Wood on a drink that borrows its name from Lawrence’s remark. The collaboration was announced with a video in which Wood leans into the joke while promoting the nutritional details of the beverage.
The product’s launch also ties into Wood’s current visibility as a contestant on Dancing With the Stars season 35, though the smoothie partnership is tied specifically to the Lawrence exchange. The drink’s name, “Connor’s Paid Me No Mind,” keeps the focus on the original comment and Wood’s humorous admission that he was not paying attention that day.
With the smoothie now available, Wood’s message is clear: he may have missed his moment on 8th Avenue, but he is paying attention now—and his response comes with 26 grams of protein per cup.
