On Wednesday, Nickelodeon’s Tiny Chef received a call notifying him that his cooking series had been terminated. The endearing chef revealed the information in a tearful video clip that rapidly went viral. “But we won an Emmy!” Tiny Chef cries out, as the online community shares in his grief.

The Tiny Chef Show, blending stop-motion and live-action, premiered on Nickelodeon in 2022. Each episode showcased the small chef preparing miniature dishes, from nachos to granola bars to apple pie, in his forest abode.

The tiny chef was joined by a lively cast of characters, including Olly, his robotic companion, Henry the snail, and Ruby, Tiny Chef’s pet caterpillar. Each episode featured a celebrity announcer; notably, RuPaul filled this role during the inaugural season. Guest appearances included Alan Cumming, Kristen Bell, Rebel Wilson, and Mayim Bialik.

Throughout its three-year span, the show gained cult popularity, receiving critical acclaim and winning two Children’s and Family Emmy Awards. Earlier this year, the series was honored with the “Outstanding Preschool Animated Series” award, as Tiny Chef proudly declared.

The poignant cancellation video has stirred outrage. Fans are showing their support for Tiny Chef on X and TikTok, condemning Nickelodeon for terminating the series. “Nickelodeon! Who is this guy and why’d you make him cry?” a creator posted on TikTok. The hashtag #savetinychef is gaining momentum, with users rallying around the cherished character.

Currently, the show’s creators are initiating crowdfunding to seek fan backing for continuation. “Tiny Chef’s cooking show has officially been cancelled (very sudden) and without the backing of a major network, we need crowdfunding to keep cooking over here.” Fans can donate via Venmo or Paypal, or become part of the Tiny Chef fan club for extra support.

“We desire nothing more than to keep sharing Cheffy’s adventures with you all,” the creators expressed on Instagram. “Thank you, Cheffers.”