US Airways were merely dealing with a complaint from a customer on Twitter when out of the blue, they tweeted a graphic image of a woman and a toy plane. The tweet stayed live for an hour, garnering up over 500 retweets. This is how US Airways responded…
We apologize for an inappropriate image recently shared as a link in one of our responses. We’ve removed the tweet and are investigating.
— US Airways (@USAirways) April 14, 2014
The #WhyIStayed was a moving campaign designed by victims of domestic abuse as to why they stayed in their relationships. DiGiorno misunderstood this and tweeted this below, causing outrage among Twitter.
#tweetfails RT @JayScottSmith: So ummm…DiGiorno will be in need of a new social media manager. pic.twitter.com/popBmWRuCQ
— Hieu Truong (@TruongCampaign) September 9, 2014
Kurlon Mattresses, from India, caused outrage worldwide by depicting Malala Yousafzai, the young 16-year-old humanitarian rights protestor and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, being shot and bouncing back.
#KurlOn mattress company has used a cartoon image depicting #MalalaYousafzai being SHOT as part of an ad campaign… http://t.co/jeXZr6ZfP3
— The UK Asian (@TheUKAsian) May 15, 2014
Instead of promoting “real beauty” – such as brands like Dove – Victoria’s Secret went for a campaign of slim, young girls and titled it “The perfect body”, sparking reactions like these from incensed customers.
No such thing as a perfect body, @VictoriasSecret. Please, stop perpetuating this myth. Only harmful. #iamperfect
— Anne A. Wilson (@Anne_A_Wilson) October 29, 2014
This year, McDonalds introduced a new mascot which intended to make children “Happy”, mirroring its name. Instead, children were reported running away screaming in a unwanted turn of events. Here is their mascot below:
Say hello to our newest friend, Happy! http://t.co/CuR3hU8Chj #HappyMeal pic.twitter.com/xgluLaHfcY
— McDonald’s (@McDonalds) May 19, 2014
Urban Outfitters also caused havoc when they released a one of a kind “Kent State” jumper with what looks like red splashes across it. In 1970, the Ohio National guard fired at, and killed, four unarmed anti-war protesters. The jumper provoked a “Rage against the Urban Outiftters” campaign which quickly grew popularity.
Appropriating Native American culture is so mainstream now that Urban Outfitters are making money from mass shootings pic.twitter.com/yypPJqgSg6
— Dean Tāne Ward (@Maccadaynu) September 15, 2014
Qantas Airlines reacted to their fleet being kept down by creating a hashtag of #QantasLuxury which asked customers to talk about how they were pampered on their airline. The tweet was then ridiculed by Twitter, such as the example below:
BREAKING NEWS: Qantas introduce #QantasLuxury class. Same as standard class, but the plane leaves the ground.
— Rosencratzinpants (@PuppyOnTheRadio) November 22, 2011
LG tried to poke fun at Apple during #bendgate, but this backfired when the insult they tweeted was in fact tweeted off an iPhone. This then caused the twitterverse to mock LG, rather than continue the tirade aimed at Apple.
Our phone doesn’t bend, it flexes…on purpose. #bendgate pic.twitter.com/d1DudxDQgf
— LG USA Mobile (@LGUSAMobile) September 24, 2014
Pizza Express popped up with this cringeworthy effort about the Royal baby birth. This effort was ignored by most, mainly so they wouldn’t have to witness it again.
Congrats to Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge! May we humbly suggest naming the #RoyalBaby ‘Pizza’?
— PizzaExpress (@PizzaExpress) September 8, 2014
No one on Twitter was sure what angle Whataburger were approaching #bendgate from, but all that is seen from this is one of their burgers looking less than tasty.
WARNING: Whataburger WILL bend if left in your pocket. #bendgate pic.twitter.com/wXcUpfVFoS
— Whataburger® (@Whataburger) September 24, 2014