Oreo presents 'gay pride' version of its famous cookie
The makers of one of the USA's best selling cookies, which is also popular in many Asian countries, have sparked controversy by showing a rainbow version on Facebook.
- United States
- June 28, 2012
The image: Nabisco, the company behind Oreo cookies, has stirred up a Facebook debate after posting a photo of a radically reimagined Oreo in which the iconic white filling has been replaced with six rainbow-colored layers to support Gay Pride month.
As of Wednesday morning, the post — which says, in part, "Proudly support love!" — had received some 220,000 likes and over 36,000 comments, both positive and negative. The pointedly flamboyant cookie, created soley as a P.R. statement, won't be available in stores.
The reaction: It's pretty clear why Oreo is just one of a growing number of companies — JCPenney, for example — boldly embracing "gay pride as a business strategy," says Tiffany Hsu at the Los Angeles Times. The gay community may be small, but it is vocal and willing to rally "support for companies deemed to be on their side." You can bet it's rushing out to buy Nabisco's cookies.
Not so fast, says Sheila Shayon at Brand Channel. Judging from "the maelstrom of divided comments" from Oreo's 26 million Facebook followers, this could be bad for business. A growing boycott threat might teach Oreo that companies can pay a steep price for taking stands on divisive issues.
Full Story: The Oreo gay-pride cookie: Good for business?
Source: The Week
As of Wednesday morning, the post — which says, in part, "Proudly support love!" — had received some 220,000 likes and over 36,000 comments, both positive and negative. The pointedly flamboyant cookie, created soley as a P.R. statement, won't be available in stores.
The reaction: It's pretty clear why Oreo is just one of a growing number of companies — JCPenney, for example — boldly embracing "gay pride as a business strategy," says Tiffany Hsu at the Los Angeles Times. The gay community may be small, but it is vocal and willing to rally "support for companies deemed to be on their side." You can bet it's rushing out to buy Nabisco's cookies.
Not so fast, says Sheila Shayon at Brand Channel. Judging from "the maelstrom of divided comments" from Oreo's 26 million Facebook followers, this could be bad for business. A growing boycott threat might teach Oreo that companies can pay a steep price for taking stands on divisive issues.
Full Story: The Oreo gay-pride cookie: Good for business?
Source: The Week
