So unless you’ve been living under a rock, or your name is Michelle, you will have heard about Oreo-gate. The viral Mums chat being released in instalments about Ava’s mum Michelle, not allowing her daughter to have Oreo biscuits and asking other parents not to put them in their kids lunchbox.
Celebrities and brands have got involved, there are meme’s. The story has taken on a life of its own and Michelle is seemingly none the wiser.
I know we can all relate. The school mums group chat has been both a lifesaver and the bane of my life. And we’ve all encountered a Michelle. Someone who perhaps makes our parenting feel less than, or seems to be making a difficult job harder for themselves. I’ve read the messages, I’ve laughed. I’ve questioned Michelle’s choices, and I really want to know what she has against Oreo’s. It feels personal.
However the longer this goes on, assuming there will at some point be a conclusion to the story, the more it has given me the ick. It’s started to feel a bit like bullying. A group of people laughing at someone else, talking about her behind her back, and actively doing things to wind her up and gang up on her. I can almost hear the collective eye rolls as I say this, but hear me out.
Things can go too far. Things can stop being funny. In a world where women are pitted against each other constantly, I thought there was supposed to be more solidarity in 2026. Women supporting women. Not tearing each other down. Yet here we are, the whole internet seemingly mocking Michelle. I’m actually glad that Michelle is unaware.
I’ve seen talk online that this isn’t real. It’s an elaborate marketing campaign. If that’s true, it’s a genius marketing campaign in that we are all talking about it. Yet the message is still the same. Lets all point and laugh at Michelle because she has a different view point to us on something. When in reality, like all of us, Michelle is a Mum, just trying to do what she thinks is right for her kid.
Yes I think Michelle not letting her kid have Oreo’s is ridiculous. Yes I believe that restricting certain foods causes more damage long term (also scientifically backed up). Yes, I would love to know why Michelle has such a personal vendetta against Oreo’s. I was in, and fully invested. Yet now, on day 20 I find myself feeling a bit grubby, and wanting to step back. It all feels a bit mean girls, and I think we are better than that.
Increasingly I find we live in a world where differences of opinion are not tolerated or accepted. Whilst I do not agree with Michelle’s restrictions, I fully support that as a parent it is her right to choose what she feels is acceptable for her daughter. And yes, perhaps a few of her messages were overbearing. But I find myself feeling increasingly sympathetic towards Michelle, the more the rest of the Mums talk about her behind her back.
I think I might be team Michelle. You stick to your principles and stand up for what you think is right Michelle. And whilst I have nothing against Oreo’s personally, I do think they are over rated and there are far more superior biscuits out there. Give me a Jammy Dodger any day.
What do you think?
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