Rainbows – benandsteve.com

By Benjamin GroffMedia© | benandsteve.com | 2025 Truth Endures©

2–3 minutes

🌈 How Braums Dairy Supported Pride — Weathered Criticism, Reaped Major Rewards

1. Context: Logo on Plaza Sponsorship

In June 2025, Braums Dairy was unexpectedly in the spotlight. It is a beloved Oklahoma-based chain of ice cream shops, fast-food restaurants, and grocery markets. Their logo appeared on promotional flyers for “Pride on the Plaza,” a local Pride celebration in Oklahoma City (1). It served as part of a broader “Live on the Plaza” sponsorship package.

2. Initial Backlash

Conservative commentator and former state lawmaker Gabe Woolley reacted to the logo’s appearance. He tweeted that he would boycott Braums for allegedly funding a drag event. (2). His claims quickly gained traction among right-leaning Oklahomans, prompting calls for political reaction to this perceived advocacy.

3. Rebuttal & Clarification

Soon, voices with marketing skill pushed back. Braums was not directly sponsoring the Pride party. Instead, they were supporting the venue’s broader summer programming. Further investigation revealed that their sponsorship covered the entire weekend. This included the LGBTQ+ event. Still, it was not explicitly targeted at Pride.

This nuance shifted the framing dramatically: what was initially cast as a partisan act became clear as simple venue support.

4. The Social Media Surge

After the dust settled, reactions flipped. Social media buzz exploded on TikTok:

“@Braums could not have ENGINEERED this kind of positive publicity if they tried #oklahoma #braums #braumsicecream #drama” (3)

Citizens applauded the company’s unintended but visible support, demonstrating powerful brand alignment.

5. Tangible Business Upside

This wave of exposure translated into real-world gains:

Brand lift & awareness: Braums featured in news cycles, social feeds, and community conversations—as a business unafraid to be inclusive.
Customer engagement: LGBTQ+ supporters and allies publicly shared plans to patronize Braums. As a result, many new customers discovered the brand. Community loyalty soared.
Earned PR: Local outlets like The Lost Ogle covered the story. They humorously defended Braums. They also criticized the boycott efforts (4).

It became a textbook example of inclusive marketing with unexpected ROI.

6. Takeaways for Brand Strategy

Insight Lesson

Intersectional sponsorships matter. Even general licensing contracts (e.g., “Live on the Plaza”) can effectively link your brand to meaningful causes.

Backlashes can pivot positively When critics amplify your message, clear and direct messaging helps turn controversy into resonance.

Public support matters TikTok, and community praise can vastly outperform first negative attention.

Organic PR beats paid media. Media coverage and word-of-mouth about your brand can have a lasting impact and longevity that outlasts short campaigns.

7. Conclusion

Braums experience offers a powerful case study for businesses. Even inadvertent support of social causes can yield significant goodwill. It also brings loyalty and profitability. Through smart, clear communication and customer engagement, you can transform backlash into business-building buzz.

Once upon a time, in a small, unassuming town named Verdantia, an extraordinary phenomenon brought magic to the lives of its residents. Verdantia was known for its picturesque streets lined with red-brick buildings and verdant trees, but what truly set it apart was its ability to produce the most stunning rainbows anyone had ever seen.

One late afternoon, after a sudden downpour, the clouds parted, and the sun cast its golden rays across the wet streets. As the townsfolk went about their business, a magnificent rainbow began to form, arching over the town’s central square. It wasn’t just any rainbow; it was a double rainbow, with vibrant colors so vivid they seemed almost tangible.

The people of Verdantia, who had grown accustomed to the beauty of rainbows, stopped in their tracks, mesmerized by the sight. The rainbow appeared to touch down at two significant landmarks in the town—the spire of the old church and the ancient oak tree standing proudly at the intersection of Main Street and Elm.

As legend had it, Verdantia was a place where rainbows were believed to be portals to realms of wonder and enchantment. The townspeople knew this was no ordinary occurrence. The elders of the town, keepers of its history and secrets, gathered quickly. They had long awaited the appearance of such a rainbow, a sign foretold in their lore that marked the beginning of a special event known as the Festival of Lumina.

The Festival of Lumina was a rare celebration that took place once every hundred years, marked by a rainbow so grand that it stretched across the sky, connecting the past with the future, the ordinary with the extraordinary. This festival was a time when the boundaries between the human world and the world of magic blurred, allowing dreams and reality to intertwine.

As the double rainbow shimmered, a soft, melodic hum filled the air. Children giggled with delight, and adults felt a warm, nostalgic pull at their hearts. The air around the rainbow seemed to sparkle, and for a moment, time itself felt as if it had slowed down. From the base of the rainbow at the church, a figure emerged—a guardian of the ancient lore, known as Seraphina, the Keeper of Light.

Seraphina, with her radiant presence and flowing silver robes, held out a staff that glowed with the colors of the rainbow. She spoke in a voice that resonated like the soft chime of bells, “People of Verdantia, the time has come to celebrate the Festival of Lumina. Today, the veil between worlds is thin, and the magic of the rainbow is at your command.”

The town erupted in joyous celebration. Musicians played enchanting melodies, artisans displayed their finest crafts, and bakers offered sweet treats that seemed to shimmer with a magical glaze. Children ran around, chasing the elusive ends of the rainbow, hoping to find hidden treasures and secret wonders.

As evening fell, the rainbow’s glow intensified, casting a luminous light over Verdantia. The townspeople gathered under the ancient oak tree, where Seraphina led a ritual to honor the rainbow and its magic. She spoke of unity, hope, and the power of dreams, encouraging everyone to embrace the wonder within their hearts.

The Festival of Lumina continued through the night, with stories of old being shared around bonfires, and dances that seemed to weave through the very fabric of the rainbow’s light. As dawn approached, the double rainbow slowly faded, but the magic lingered in the hearts of the people.

Verdantia, forever touched by the beauty and enchantment of the rainbow, became a place where dreams were cherished, and the magic of the Festival of Lumina was remembered and celebrated in smaller ways every day. The rainbow city, as it came to be known, stood as a beacon of hope, joy, and the enduring power of wonder.