“The fact that somebody looked straight at a purple onion and named it red onion really bothers me”

A “red onion” looks like a purple onion to many people. “But who saw a purple onion and decided to call it a red onion?” was posted on X/Twitter by Katie on December 2, 2015. “How do you look at a purple onion and call it a red onion??” was posted on X/Twitter by 𝕺𝖐𝖊𝖈𝖍𝖚𝖐𝖜𝖚💥on January 24, 2022.
 
“The fact that somebody looked straight at a purple onion and named it red onion really bothers me🙄” was posted on Threads by nesahicks on April 14, 2025, and this received over 18,400 likes. The saying was also posted on Facebook by Nesa Hicks on April 14, 2025.
 
 
Wikipedia: Red onion
Red onions (also known as purple or blue onions in some mainland European countries) are cultivars of the onion (Allium cepa), and have purplish-red skin and white flesh tinged with red. They are most commonly used in cooking, but the skin has also been used as a dye.
   
X/Twitter
Katie
@KatiieeeeeH
But who saw a purple onion and decided to call it a red onion?
3:21 PM · Dec 2, 2015
 
X/Twitter
Jk
@chris_jay_kay
Just heard someone refer to a red onion as a purple onion. And that annoyed me
10:08 PM · Oct 10, 2016
 
X/Twitter
ashton larosa
@saraashton42
PSA: Alec didn’t know a purple onion and a red onion were the same
9:30 PM · Feb 12, 2018
 
X/Twitter
cc
@carlierenae
Someone on Instagram just called a red onion a purple onion and I just can not believe it.
4:26 PM · Mar 6, 2019
 
X/Twitter
BEBO Distributing Co
@bebodist
Red onion is also called Spanish onion or purple onion and is the most popular type of onion in India, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East. #MondayMotivation #FreshProduce #RGV #Veggies 🧅
12:57 PM · Apr 12, 2021
 
X/Twitter
𝕺𝖐𝖊𝖈𝖍𝖚𝖐𝖜𝖚💥
@emandulaka
How do you look at a purple onion and call it a red onion??
1:29 PM · Jan 24, 2022
 
Threads
nesahicks
April 14, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The fact that somebody looked straight at a purple onion and named it red onion really bothers me🙄
 
Facebook
Nesa Hicks
April 14, 2025 at 10:17 AM ·
The fact that somebody looked straight at a purple onion and named it red onion really bothers me🙄
 
X/Twitter
Haris
@pris0n_mike
The fact that somebody looked straight at a purple onion and named it red onion really bothers me🙄
2:51 PM · Apr 14, 2025
 
Facebook
Kane Trujillo
April 15, 2025 at 4:59 AM ·
The fact that somebody looked straight at a purple onion and named it red onion really bothers me…
 
X/Twitter
Degen, CPA
@Degen_CPA
The fact that someone looked at an obviously purple onion and then named it “red onion” bothers me.
4:35 PM · Apr 17, 2025

X/Twitter
Bob Kostic
@causticbob
The fact that somebody looked straight at a purple onion and named it red onion really bothers me
5:52 PM · Apr 17, 2025