http://toofab.com/2018/01/24/this-is-us-fire-crock-pot-jack-pearson-milo-ventimiglia/

Many This Is Us fans expressed anger (https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/this-is-us-fans-vow-to-never-use-a-crock-pot-again-after-fire) — whether real or not — at the kitchen appliance on social media following last night’s episode. “I just threw my crock-pot out the window,” one fan tweeted. “I will never accept a crockpot as a gift now,” wrote another. That prompted the official Crock-Pot brand to respond on Facebook (and apparently tweet for the first time this morning (https://www.purewow.com/news/crock-pot-twitter-this-is-us)). “We’re heartbroken over last night’s episode, too!” the brand wrote on Facebook, responding to a comment from a Facebook user named Ruthie. “Ruthie, we’re innocent until proven guilty. Since the 1970s we have been providing families with quality and safe products, ask your parents if you don’t believe us. DM us with any questions, and we’d be happy to tell you more about our safety standards!” Creator Dan Fogelman tweeted in response to the backlash this morning, “Taking a moment to remind everyone that it was a 20 year old fictional crockpot (https://twitter.com/Dan_Fogelman/status/956210499246489600) with an already funky switch? Let's not just lump all those lovely hardworking crockpots together.”

ALSO:

Dan Fogelman: “I mean, all signs point to that next week is going to be the Big One” (http://ew.com/tv/2018/01/24/this-is-us-creator-jack-fire-super-bowl-preview/)
Fogelman promises all questions around Jack’s death will be resolved in the Super Bowl episode (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/is-us-creator-everything-involving-jacks-death-will-be-answered-super-bowl-episode-1077863)

Crock-Pot would have a tough case if it sued This Is Us for defamation (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/can-crock-pot-sue-us-over-controversial-plot-reveal-n841401)
“Proving disparagement of products is harder than proving defamation of a person’s character,” explains Danny Cevallos (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/can-crock-pot-sue-us-over-controversial-plot-reveal-n841401). “To win a lawsuit, the Crock-Pot folks would have to show that (1) the statement is false; (2) This is Us intended — or reasonably recognized — the publication would cause financial loss; (3) Crock-Pot actually lost money; and (4) This is Us’ recklessly disregarded the truth in coming up with the shorting Crock-Pot scene — which would probably mean it’s known to be impossible that Crock-Pots can short circuit.” ALSO: Stephen Colbert mocks the This Is Us Crock-Pot controversy. (http://ew.com/tv/2018/01/27/this-is-us-crock-pot-stephen-colbert/)