WordPress login screen pineapple pizza debacle ends as checkbox becomes optional

If you’ve logged into WordPress.org lately, you might’ve noticed a quirky addition to the login screen: a checkbox declaring “Pineapple is delicious on pizza.” No, this isn’t some random developer’s inside joke gone rogue; it’s the latest chapter in a saga that has left the WordPress community both baffled and bemused.

But before the pineapple wars, there was an earlier, far more contentious checkbox. WordPress required users to confirm that they are not affiliated with WP Engine in any way, financially or otherwise, before accessing their accounts. This wasn’t just a cheeky gatekeeping mechanism; it came on the heels of escalating tensions between WordPress.org and WP Engine, a popular hosting provider.

The legal drama around this checkbox culminated in a court ruling earlier this month, forcing WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg to remove it. Enter the pineapple. The controversial fruit seemed like a harmless replacement — unless, of course, you’re one of those who firmly believes pineapple has no place on pizza. Trying to log in without checking this box? Well, tough luck. You’d get a “please try again” error.

The pineapple checkbox didn’t sit well with everyone, and WordPress.org decided to let the community weigh in. An X poll conducted on the official WordPress account asked users if the checkbox should remain mandatory. The results? A decisive 81.2% voted against it, with 58.3% also declaring that pineapple on pizza isn’t delicious.

Following the poll, Mika Epstein, a former WordPress Plugin Review Team representative, filed a Trac ticket advocating for the checkbox to be made optional. This gained swift support from the community and even Matt Mullenweg himself, who commented, “I’m supportive of this change.” By Tuesday morning, the checkbox became an optional item — and WordPress contributors everywhere breathed a sigh of relief.

Reactions to the change were as varied as pizza toppings. On X, Jeff Chandler celebrated with a post saying, “The stupid Pineapple checkbox when logging into WordPress.org is now optional.” Reddit had its share of humor, with one user proclaiming, “The Pineapple is dead! Long live the Pineapple!”

While the WordPress pineapple checkbox becoming optional marks a small win for community governance, it’s also a reminder of the growing calls for reform. In an open letter published by The Repository, a group of WordPress professionals urged Mullenweg to work collaboratively with the community rather than making unilateral decisions.

Will WordPress’s governance model evolve? Or will we see more quirky login screen antics in the future? Let us know in the comments.