A North Texas bakery has stirred controversy online for its baked goods critiquing the country’s political climate.
While many celebrated America’s 250th birthday on July 4, Flower Mound’s Hive Bakery posted photos online of cookies decorated with images of an upside-down American flag and the words “under distress.” The bakery had to keep making the cookies, which sold out on the holiday.
“Thank you for supporting us and our reluctance to celebrate the 4th of July. Solidarity. I dissent,” a Facebook post from the bakery said
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The viral post received backlash on social media, but this isn’t the first time Hive Bakery has ignited a debate online involving its baked goods.
Hive Bakery’s controversial cookies
Owner Haley Popp said in an email to The Dallas Morning News that she makes political statements using her baked goods because “what’s occurring in our country should not be normalized.”
“People need to continue to resist this administration and the harm they’ve brought to America,” Popp continued. “What good is a platform if you’re not going to use it?”
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Hive Bakery’s original July 4 post, which garnered thousands of comments and views across social media platforms, prompted a series of follow-up posts and sparked widespread discussion online
“Wow the delusions are affecting baked goods🙄,” one Facebook user wrote, critiquing the bakery’s post.
Another user wrote, “Happy Birthday America!! I love this country. I love it no matter who is in the White House. To the people who are refusing to celebrate, or say that they are embarrassed to be an American, just remember that the reason you are allowed to openly say those things or throw your various hissy fits, is BECAUSE you live in this country. So celebrate what you have and where you are lucky enough to live.”
Many, however, were in support of the bakery’s stance.
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“Keep doing what you do!” one user wrote, praising the bakery’s mission and values
Another wrote: “I did nothing to celebrate July 4th yesterday. It was a sad day for America and I wanted no part of the celebrations going on. America is indeed in distress.”
Unlike many other businesses, Hive Bakery does not usually sell Fourth of July-themed items, Popp said. But everything the bakery made protesting the holiday this year sold out, and Popp said they ran the ovens all day to keep up with the demand.
“Lots of people are upset about what this administration has taken from us,” she told The News. “We’re busier than ever.”
Later in the evening on July 4, the bakery posted a video of Popp reading hate comments from the original post, which also received high engagement. In the video, Popp said “I think a lot of us can agree that the state of the country right now is not the best. We have the worst president in the history of the United States with a corrupt Cabinet.”
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Other posts emphasized Popp’s determination to keep going and using her voice, despite the backlash.
Not Hive Bakery’s first rodeo
Hive Bakery has been in the online political crosshairs before.
In 2024, the bakery faced backlash for its sugar cookies decorated with the face of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for the vice presidential debate. Those cookies resulted in death threats aimed at Popp.
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The reaction wasn’t surprising, however. Popp, a self-taught baker who has competed several times on Food Network programs, previously told The News that this response had happened when she first made rainbow cookies for Pride Month, and every time she’s shared any political view since opening her business in 2018. In addition to countless death threats, she said, she’s received angry phone calls and negative online reviews.
But she refuses to be silent.
“I hope to show people in my community that they’re not alone. There is a large population of left-leaning people in the D-FW area, and I’m here to show them,” Popp said. “A lot of like-minded individuals fear speaking out. I’ll step up and be that voice.”
