Crash, the One-Eyed Cat, Chosen as 2023’s Cadbury Bunny

This is the first time a cat has been selected in the competition’s history.

(Regina Erofeeva/Shutterstock.com)

You’d be surprised by what it takes to be a famous bunny these days. For those entrants in the Annual Cadbury Bunny Contest, you need a set of ears, and you must be a rescue animal. Being a bunny is optional.

In fact, this year, the winner of the competition is Crash, a one-eyed rescue cat. Now eight years old, Crash was rescued after a devastating car accident where he was severely injured and left with one eye and a broken jaw, according to Penn Live.

Crash the One-Eyed Wonder
After finding refuge at a nearby shelter and beginning his recovery, Crash's distinctive and sociable character quickly won over the hearts of everyone there, 7 News Boston, reports. As a result, he was chosen to be the shelter's official feline resident. Crash's charisma and abilities to perform entertaining tricks, such as giving high fives, delighted visitors to the shelter, setting him up perfectly for his starring role in the upcoming Cadbury Clucking Bunny commercial. It's clear that Crash is the purrfect (pun intended) fit for the role.

Of the ten animals who made it to the final judging period, only one was an actual rabbit. Candidates included Cyprus, the orphaned beaver from Farmerville, LA; Redbird, the guinea pig from West Virginia; Ping, the abandoned duck from Sioux Falls, SD; Stewie, the miniature therapy pony from Andover, MD; Ande, the chinchilla from Springfield, IL; Timmy, the rescue sheep from Vacaville, CA; and Crash.

“We are jumping with joy to hear Crash is the next Cadbury Bunny but not surprised as he is always the center of attention in any room,” Maddie Corey, Crash’s owner, told Hershey. “He’s been through so much over the past few years and we appreciate the love his friends, family, and cat enthusiasts across the country have shown. We can’t wait to see Crash take center stage for this year’s Cadbury Clucking Bunny commercial and share his story with the world.”

How to become a bunny
The judging of the “rescue pets edition” competition occurs in several phases with a combination of selected judges and a public voting period on videos submitted on behalf of each potential bunny candidate. Once the public voting ends, judges review the results and make their final decision.

Not only will Crash star in the iconic commercial, but he will also receive a cash prize as well as funding for his shelter, Simply Cats, in Boise, Idaho.

"We've been on the edge of our seats waiting to see who America would choose as the 2023 Cadbury Bunny and after an impressive number of votes, we couldn't be more excited to see Crash take home the coveted Bunny ears," said Cam Bogie, Sr. associate brand manager on the Cadbury brand team. "Big thank you to all the pets that entered this year's special rescue Tryouts, and big congratulations to our winner Crash!"

Ensuring animal dignity
In honor of the fifth anniversary of the Tryouts, the Cadbury brand reaffirmed its enduring alliance with the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) by donating funds to promoting the welfare of vulnerable pets and advancing the ASPCA's objective of implementing practical measures to prevent animal abuse.

Keep an eye out for the new Cadbury Clucking Bunny commercial featuring Crash! And start preparing your pet now for the 2024 annual contest.

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