“That doesn’t mean we don’t celebrate Richard,” the statement continued, “but the facts do not support the urban legend.”
However in a separate statement shared with E! News, Frito-Lay shared in part, “He did important work launching our Hispanic Business Unit and played a key role in accelerating the growth of our Flamin’ Hot Brand and other brands particularly through his Hispanic marketing efforts—efforts that helped grow our business and support our communities, especially in Los Angeles.”
For years, Richard claimed to have pitched his idea to executives when he was a janitor in a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Frito-Lay plant. His account resulted in a memoir set to be released in June titled Flamin’ Hot: The Incredible True Story of One Man’s Rise from Janitor to Top Executive.
The story even grabbed the attention of Eva, who announced in 2019 that she would be directing a biopic about Richard’s life.