#SwedenGate erupted in May 2022 following a viral Reddit post in the r/AskReddit community where a user recounted being left in a friend's bedroom while the Swedish family ate dinner without them. The story quickly spread to Twitter, triggering a global discussion on cultural norms regarding hospitality. While many outside of Scandinavia were horrified by the idea of not feeding a guest, Swedish people explained it as a cultural practice of respecting the guest family's meal plans and avoiding dependency. The meme evolved into a series of map infographics and reaction images depicting guests waiting awkwardly in bedrooms, solidifying 'Swedish hospitality' as a recurring internet joke about cultural differences.