The Applebee's Boycott meme gained traction following a leaked email from a high-ranking executive at an Applebee’s franchise. The email callously suggested that rising inflation and gas prices would benefit the company by making workers more desperate, thus allowing for lower wages. Internet users quickly reacted with outrage, using the 'Boycott Applebee's' slogan to criticize corporate insensitivity and labor exploitation. The meme often features screenshots of the email or parodies of the restaurant's marketing, serving as a tool for social commentary on worker rights and the current economic climate.