Everyone loves Oreo cookies.
Since being introduced on March 6, 1912, the delicious cream-filled chocolate wafers have consistently been the best-selling cookie brand in America and are enjoyed in over one hundred countries.
However, the cookie company's questionable marketing strategy is dividing people on the internet.
Oreo declared on Twitter "Trans people exist."
Trans people exist.— OREO Cookie (@OREO Cookie) 1614285631.0
Yes, that is true.
And?
People were left looking for more information.
Oreo did not provide further context but many presumed the statement about trans people was in response to the victory of LGBTQ+ rights after the House of Representatives voted 224-206 in favor of the Equality Act and the transphobia Republicans displayed while considering the legislation as well as GOP Senator Rand Paul's transphobic attack of Dr. Rachel Levine.
The tweet was posted on February 25, the same day the House passed the landmark legislation that prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in all 50 states.
Many social media users generally celebrated Oreo's statement of solidarity.
roses are red conservatives are pissed because oreos said https://t.co/jXD3K8mZcL— floptimus prime ribᵀᴹ (@floptimus prime ribᵀᴹ) 1614295297.0
Cookies shouldn't be smarter than congress people. https://t.co/Xt76GEsflX— Ethereal bisexual who wears mostly black (@Ethereal bisexual who wears mostly black) 1614326282.0
Some people questioned if this was another example of exploiting the LGBTQ+ cause in the name of capitalism.
@Oreo Pandering cookie brands exist.— Tim Young (@Tim Young) 1614303878.0
@Oreo @timtimboi_ I agree entirely, but this is a room of old white people saying “how can we sell more cookies to young people”— gabeybaby (@gabeybaby) 1614286953.0
@Oreo thank you, large soulless brand, for confirming that what i have experienced throughout my life did indeed ha… https://t.co/3PputIVIiT— Aria Callaghan (@Aria Callaghan) 1614287693.0
@Oreo im certain this comes from a genuine place of love for my community and not because trans rights are in profi… https://t.co/GijNybtuF4— Aria Callaghan (@Aria Callaghan) 1614288101.0
@Oreo you may be advertising but this is a true statement. i will buy your cookies for this https://t.co/ToQCfBNdjc— corrina / bolin’s mom / online (@corrina / bolin’s mom / online) 1614354839.0
Others thought food and politics should not mix.
@Oreo Cutting open my gut and removing the cookies I had for breakfast and lunch. I have no stomach for politics— Italian-American Advocate (@Italian-American Advocate) 1614286870.0
@Oreo Oreo: trans ppl exist Conservatives: woahhhh this is getting way too political for me 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵— Babbit🍄 (@Babbit🍄) 1614322205.0
@TWines4congress @Oreo My existence is political?— Boat (@Boat) 1614324067.0
@Oreo Just make cookies, please.— Melissa the 🏠Homemaking 🫖Mater (@Melissa the 🏠Homemaking 🫖Mater) 1614288043.0
@Oreo For me Oreo doesn’t exist anymore in my shopping list, private companies should not dictate ideologies— TheodoraVan (@TheodoraVan) 1614331339.0
@Oreo See how this turned out? You tried to appear 'woke' and edgy. You're a cookie. Now the people you were hoping… https://t.co/mrqBZtS2Cp— Susan "No Sedition" Bagwell (@Susan "No Sedition" Bagwell) 1614346741.0
So now, what?
Oreo really said "trans people exist" then logged off https://t.co/l7hcHi0A4L— 🌹 Punished Venom Puffin 🌹 (@🌹 Punished Venom Puffin 🌹) 1614310279.0
@Oreo true now when are you gonna donate to trans charities?— Blake SELFIE PINNED (@Blake SELFIE PINNED) 1614285691.0
@Oreo depressed people exist as well. do we try to help them oreo we praise their mental condition?— braden🇺🇸 (@braden🇺🇸) 1614295570.0
@ActNormalOrElse @Oreo fr "trans people exist" yes people know this,, we didnt ask you to state a well known fact.… https://t.co/MuXdNv3YfY— tobi (@tobi) 1614357990.0
@Oreo For those in the comments who don’t get why so many trans people are unhappy with this: Does me saying that… https://t.co/5BzcAklKRB— Theodore (@Theodore) 1614298657.0
@Oreo Donating money to Trans Life Line would go a lot further than a staffer trying to earn you a headline— The Serfs (@The Serfs) 1614287274.0
@Oreo Corporations keep your mouth shut unless your putting that oreo money into helping trans ppl not be broke and abused by society.— Barb the Builder🌱 (@Barb the Builder🌱) 1614359226.0
Despite Oreo's dubious intentions, many people embraced the overall statement as a positive one.
@theserfstv @Oreo I think using a gigantic platform to bring awareness is a helluva start. Wether or not it was for… https://t.co/ycs5Ed6vpM— ... (@...) 1614309735.0
@Oreo For the record: Oreo didn’t have to say ANYTHING regarding trans lives. In fact, had they not, no one would h… https://t.co/4pDM9cpCgm— *Real person. Not an actor. (@*Real person. Not an actor.) 1614337007.0
@Oreo Too much cynicism and not enough love and acceptance from our trans community in these replies. I'm newly ou… https://t.co/3v1qv3xkdg— Sofi Odelle (@Sofi Odelle) 1614319893.0
Oreos in the U.S. are made and sold by the Nabisco division of Mondeliz International—which this Twitter user discovered was actively doing its part to support the trans community by offering transgender health benefits.
@Oreo I typically try to call out hypocrisy but, wow... Nabisco's parent company has a 100 rating by the @HRC while… https://t.co/xsi6bm4aYn— 💙💗BL(Always)M💗💙 (@💙💗BL(Always)M💗💙) 1614290358.0
Regardless of the conflicting social media reactions, it is comforting to know a major global snack brand is an ally and always has been.
Last year, Oreo celebrated Gay Pride with special limited edition rainbow Oreos to honor their partnership with PFLAG National—"The first and largest organization for #LGBTQ+ people, their parents and families, and allies."
We’re PROUD to announce the first-ever Rainbow OREO Cookies made in honor of our partnership with @PFLAG 🏳️🌈 Join… https://t.co/dTlRaa1gsh— OREO Cookie (@OREO Cookie) 1602250200.0