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From the comments of this YouTube video.

As a tween, I intensely studied the Tragic Kingdom lyrics and album artwork for secret meanings and hidden codes. I remember writing a short story inspired by this album and adopting the symbol of the rotting orange, along with the colors orange and green, as a protective talisman… even painting my bedroom in those same colors…

I had a picture of Gwen Stefani in my middle-school locker. Some bully once tried to rip it off, and I slammed the door on his hand and wouldn’t let go until he dropped it.

I didn’t know about the “fruit fly scare” that the commenter above references. It’s actually a twisted and fascinating story unto itself. According to Wikipedia, a group in 1989 called The Breeders took responsibility for releasing medflies on California crops as retaliation for the use of airborne insecticides. The group sent letters to local government officials and the media — it’s still unclear whether this was all a hoax… this thread offers a bit more context.