# Burger King Google Home of the Whopper

> A 15-second Whopper ad activated Google Home and prompted Wikipedia edits.

- Owner: Burger King
- Kind: Campaign
- Sector: Food & beverage
- Seed date: 2017-04-12
- Peak date: Week of Apr 18, 2017
- Date basis: Dates use the stated precision; chart positions are date anchors.
- Spread Score: 45 (Notable), v1.2
- Mechanics: Response chain, Controversy, Transgression, Platform jump, Press loop

## Summary

Burger King posted a voice-command ad before its paid TV airing. Google blocked the audio within hours; Burger King aired replacement audio that evening. Device tests, memes and Wikipedia edits spread, followed by an editors’ open letter and a Cannes Grand Prix.

## Timeline

- 2017-04-12 — Burger King (YouTube) — Burger King posted its Google Home-triggering Whopper ad to YouTube before its TV airing.
- 2017-04-12 — The Verge (Press) — The Verge reported that the ad would activate Google Home and read the Whopper Wikipedia entry.
- 2017-04-12 — Google Home owners (Open web) — Google Home owners filmed the ad activating their devices and posted response videos online.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/burger-king-google-home-of-the-whopper

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Burger King Google Home of the Whopper.” Case HIS-00068. Spread Score v1.2: 45/100. Updated 2026-10-12. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-00068