The #McDStories meme originated in January 2012 when McDonald's launched a Twitter campaign intended to promote the quality of their ingredients through heartwarming farmer stories. However, the hashtag was immediately hijacked by critics and disgruntled customers, turning it into a 'bashtag' where users shared anecdotes of food poisoning, poor service, and hygiene issues. This event is now cited as one of the most famous examples of corporate social media marketing gone wrong. Today, the meme is used to highlight the disconnect between corporate PR and consumer reality, serving as a template for poking fun at any brand's attempt at forced sentimentality.