The Oreo Gay Pride Cookie controversy began in June 2012 when Oreo's parent company posted an image of a multi-layered rainbow-filled cookie to their Facebook page. While the cookie was never actually produced for retail, the digital image became a lightning rod for the culture wars, sparking thousands of heated comments and calls for boycotts from conservative groups while receiving massive support from LGBTQ+ advocates. The image has since become a quintessential example of 'rainbow washing' and corporate activism, frequently resurfacing every June as a meme to discuss the sincerity of brands during Pride Month. It is used today both to celebrate representation and to satirize how companies pivot their marketing strategies to align with social trends.