Golden Gaytime
{{short description|Ice cream}}
{{For|the song|Golden Gaytime (song)}}
{{redirect-distinguish|Cookie Crumble|Crumbl Cookies}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Golden Gaytime
| image = Golden Gaytime.png
| image_size = 140px
| image_alt =
| caption = An original flavour Golden Gaytime
| alternate_name = Cookie Crumble
| type = Ice cream
| course = Dessert
| country = Australia
| creator =
| year = {{Start date and age|1959}}
| served =
| main_ingredient =
| minor_ingredient =
| commons =
| other =
| no_recipes= false
}}
Golden Gaytime (Cookie Crumble in New Zealand{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/manufacturing/kiwis-dont-know-how-to-have-a-gaytime/news-story/2c292bede639f2d59a7d32ea1cc555bb|title=Kiwis don't know how to have a Gaytime|last=Chung|first=Frank|date=14 October 2016|work=News.com.au|access-date=12 February 2017}}) is a popular ice cream snack that is made and distributed by the Streets confectionery company in Australia, and first released in 1959.{{cite web |url=http://www.marketingmag.com.au/news/goldengaytimeclassictvcsreturn-1087 |title=Golden Gaytime classic TVCS return | Marketing magazine |access-date=2012-07-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328183721/http://www.marketingmag.com.au/news/goldengaytimeclassictvcsreturn-1087/ |archive-date=2012-03-28 }} It is a toffee and vanilla ice cream dipped in compound chocolate, and wrapped in vanilla biscuit-like "crumbs" on a wooden paddlepop-stick. Its name has survived intact regardless, or because, of the possible homosexual connotations in modern decades.{{cite news|author=Review / John McGrath |url=http://www.adelaidereview.com.au/archives/2004_11_26/foodanddining_story1.shtml |title=Garden of earthly delights |newspaper=The Adelaide Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207051915/http://www.adelaidereview.com.au/archives/2004_11_26/foodanddining_story1.shtml|archive-date=February 7, 2006}}
Variations
On 4 August 2015, Streets released Golden Gaytime ice-cream tub format in addition to its usual popsicle stick format, as well as selling a tub of the ice cream's crumbs on the side.{{cite web|url=http://www.popsugar.com.au/tech/Golden-Gaytime-Tub-Result-Facebook-38025091|title=Golden Gaytime in a Tub Is a Reality! But Not Because of the Fans|last=Whiting|first=Alexandra|date=4 August 2015|work=PopSugar|access-date=12 February 2017|archive-date=12 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212165305/http://www.popsugar.com.au/tech/Golden-Gaytime-Tub-Result-Facebook-38025091|url-status=dead}}
On 7 September 2016, Streets released the Golden Gaytime cross Cornetto cone – named Golden Gaynetto – in addition to other formats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/streets-launches-golden-gaynetto-ice-cream-combining-golden-gaytimes-and-cornettos/news-story/7dcf139954284f9cd8c338d6d7574d9c|title=Streets launches Golden Gaynetto ice cream, combining Golden Gaytimes and Cornettos|date=2016-09-06|website=NewsComAu|language=en|access-date=2020-02-04}}
In 2017, Streets released a Golden Gaytime ice-cream sandwich named the Golden Gaytime Sanga ("Sanga" being Australian slang for sandwich).{{cite web|url=https://www.c-store.com.au/2017/10/26/streets-announce-official-release-golden-gaytime-sanga/|title=Streets announce official release of Golden Gaytime Sanga|date=26 October 2017|access-date=1 November 2017}} A rainbow variant was also created in support of the LGBT community in 2017.
In the summer of 2020, several locations in Melbourne and Sydney held pop-up stores that contained various exclusive crumb variations, ranging from vanilla crumb, musk sticks, strawberry hard candy, popping candy and edible glitter, to vanilla crumb, pretzel bits and salted caramel drizzle.[https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/golden-gaytime-launches-pop-up-w-dope-new-flavours-takeaway-crumbs/ Golden Gaytime Launches Pop-Up W/ Dope New Flavours & Takeaway Crumbs]
Gaytime has also collaborated with various other companies to release Gaytime-flavoured versions of their products, including Gaytime Krispy Kreme donuts, Gaytime Coco Pops, and various Gaytime dessert mixes made by Green's baking, including mousse, cake, brownies and brookies.
= Flavours =
Various flavours have been introduced, especially in the mid-2010s onwards, with some exclusive to particular stores (Krispy Kreme doughnut flavoured Golden Gaytime was initially released exclusively in Australian 7-Eleven stores). A plant-based version suitable for vegans was introduced in September 2022.{{Cite news |last=Poposki |first=Claudia |date=2022-09-06 |title=Streets release plant-based Golden Gaytime ice cream |work=News.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/eat/streets-release-plantbased-golden-gaytime-ice-cream/news-story/487d33a3bd01a44315ab24ff7c06ee55 |access-date=2022-11-06}} Unlike most flavours, the plant-based option has remained a permanent fixture in their lineup.
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Flavour variety !Date introduced |
| Strawberry
|2015 |
| Mint
|2015 |
| Chocolate
|2015 |
| Unicorn |
| Piña Colada |
| Choc Mint McMint Face |
| Choc Fever |
| Salty |
| Violet Crumble |
| Krispy Kreme |
| Birthday Cake |
| Coco Pops |
| Crunchy Nut |
| Froot Loops |
| Plant Based |
| Oak Chocolate Milk
|2022 |
| Vanilla Malt Shake
|2023 |
| Strawberries and Cream
|2024 |
| (Inspired by) Caramel Slice
|2024 |
Advertising
The company appears to embrace the camp name by retaining the tagline from the 1980s, "It's hard to have a Gaytime on your own". Footage from the 1980s commercials were reused in 2015 to celebrate the launch of the new flavours. The in-home boxes feature the words "4 delicious chances to have a gay time".{{cite web |url=http://tinypic.com/909bg1.jpg |title=Box design of golden gaytime |access-date=2010-01-10 |archive-date=2011-05-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521154407/http://tinypic.com/909bg1.jpg |url-status=dead }} Ads featuring the slogan also occasionally featured men who would accidentally get into risqué positions whilst trying to get a Gaytime. In 2009, Streets started re-airing a television commercial from the 1980s.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv-2Z1qrrHs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/Cv-2Z1qrrHs |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live|title=Golden Gaytime | date=2 March 2009 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2010-01-10}}{{cbignore}}
Cultural impact
The double meaning of the name is highlighted in The Bedroom Philosopher song "Golden Gaytime".{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
In 2018, several Indonesians attempted to boycott Unilever over the product due to its name and the rainbow variant that was released in 2017 to support the LGBT community. Unilever Indonesia released a statement in support of the boycotters, but also pointed out that Gaytimes have never been sold in Indonesia either.[https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/anti-lgbt-indonesians-threaten-boycott-unilever-golden-gaytime-ice-cream-isnt-sold-indonesia/ Anti-LGBT Indonesians threaten to boycott Unilever over Golden Gaytime ice cream (that isn’t sold in Indonesia) - Coconuts]
In early 2021, an online petition to change the product's name to something "less offensive" gained traction on social media. However, it was met with backlash by the general public, including counterpetitions,{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Graeme |date=25 March 2021 |title=The Golden Gaytime controversy spreads across the nation |url=https://www.outinperth.com/the-golden-gaytime-controversy-spreads-across-the-nation/}} and the original petition to rename was withdrawn. Streets has stated that they won't change the product's name.{{Cite web |date=April 2021 |title=Open Letter From The Golden Gaytime |url=https://www.streetsicecream.com.au/gaytime-lettter.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507223817/https://www.streetsicecream.com.au/gaytime-lettter.html |archive-date=7 May 2021 |website=Streets Ice Cream}} In the same year, the name of the product was criticised by a Muslim association in Malaysia.{{Cite web|last=nasephia|date=2021-05-18|title=This Ice Cream's Name Made Some M'sians Angry, Here's The Real Story & Irony Behind Golden Gaytime|url=https://juiceonline.com/this-ice-creams-name-made-some-msians-angry-heres-the-real-story-irony-behind-golden-gaytime/|access-date=2021-10-23|language=en-US}}