If you were lucky enough to score an early preview to Universal’s upcoming Epic Universe, you probably walked in expecting thrills, elaborate theming, and cutting-edge attractions. But what you might not have expected was one of the Super Mario characters becoming the unexpected star of the day—for taking a tumble.
That’s exactly what happened when Toad made his appearance inside SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Guests who were in the area during previews were surprised to see the character suddenly fall backwards and hit the ground. A video clip of the incident quickly spread online, racking up over 300,000 views in less than 24 hours.
It didn’t take long for the internet to latch onto the moment. The phrase “Chonky Toad has fallen” became a meme almost immediately, with fans joking about the situation but also expressing concern for the performer inside the costume.
What people saw
In the video, Toad is seen coming out to greet fans when something—whether a misstep or a slip—caused him to fall backward. While it's unclear if the person inside was injured, several fans at the park said cast members responded quickly and helped the character out of the area.
For many Nintendo fans, it was their first time seeing Toad live in any Universal park. While Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach are more commonly seen during meet-and-greets, Toad has rarely been featured in this kind of role before.
That only adds to the interest surrounding his appearance—and now, his very public fall.
It’s part of the preview process
It’s important to remember that these previews are just that: previews. Epic Universe doesn’t officially open until May 22, and Universal is still fine-tuning everything from ride operations to character interactions.
That includes live meet-and-greets, which can sometimes have hiccups. It’s not unusual for mascot characters to deal with difficult movement, especially in bulky costumes. Accidents happen. This one just happened to be caught on camera and shared widely.
And now, what started as a small moment has turned into one of the most talked-about parts of the Epic Universe rollout so far.
