This summer, a vicious rivalry is overtaking the streets of Manhattan, and it involves ice cream trucks.
Stephen Colbert explained the so-called "ice cream scuffle" on last night's Late Show: Competing frozen dessert hawkers Mister Softee and New York Ice Cream are battling for coveted turf on the city streets, and things can get surprisingly violent, with some drivers even carrying baseball bats.
As Eater NY explains, "The turf war started approximately three years ago when a Softee truck operator named Dimitrios Tsirkos cut ties with the company and rebranded his fleet of 12 trucks with the Master Softee name and logo. Mister Softee sued, so Tsirkos changed the name to New York Ice Cream." Now, the latter company's drivers are reportedly harassing the former's, "and sometimes these arguments get physical."
Oh, and that classic jingle that lets everyone know when an ice cream truck is approaching? Colbert reveals that little ditty actually has some downright creepy lyrics. Stay safe out there, kids.
