'Most Interesting Man in the World’ Missing From O’Brien’s Pub in Brandon: VIDEO

Editor’s Note: This story was updated April 21 at 9:15 p.m. with news of the display’s replacement by Dos Equis and O’Brien’s response to a Facebook claim by O’Toole’s.

The Most Interesting Man in the World is missing and  in Brandon wants him back.

A poster and life-size cutout of the Dos Equis pitchman was taken by patrons at the popular Brandon pub April 13 at around 1:30 a.m.

According to a surveillance videotape, two men and a woman removed the display from the bar just two days after it was delivered to the popular Irish pub on Lumsden Road.

But pub co-owner Sean Rice said he believes the theft probably was just a prank and is turning what could be a negative into a positive.

He posted the videotape of what he calls “the kidnapping” on the pub’s Facebook page, noting that if the thieves had wanted the display, “all they had to do was ask."

Since the April 13 heist, talk about sightings of the most interesting man cutout have been posted in earnest on  O’Brien’s Facebook page, with sightings reported in New York, Tampa and Apollo Beach. One comment had the pitchman at a Tampa Bay Lightning game.

The Most Interesting Man in the World has a cult following online with several Websites devoted to the graying philosopher.  Dos Equis even has its own Most Interesting Man Academy.

The most interesting man display was delivered to O’Brien’s in Brandon on April 11 and took pride of place inside the pub and beside the music stage. It was part of a Dos Equis promotion leading up to Cinco de Mayo. The pub planned to run several contests centered on the Most Interesting Man in the World theme. Those will still go ahead with or without the promotional display.

“We will still have our most interesting man and woman contests,” but it would be good to have the display along with it, Rice said. To light a little fire under his staff and encourage them to be more vigilant, Rice, tongue in cheek, is giving them all a little encouragement.

“I told the bar staff they would be cut off from their after-shift drink until the most popular man display turns back up again,” Rice said.  “Now they have a real incentive to get him back.”

It appears to be working, said Ron Van Hall, the pub’s general manager.

“The staff are all very interested in getting him back now. We are all awaiting his return.”

There have been no ransom demands of yet from the kidnappers. But O’Brien’s is offering a reward if the display is returned.

“They can have a bucket of Dos Equis,” Rice said.

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