This is how companies should commemorate the anniversary of 9/11
Thirteen years after 9/11, it seems like companies still haven't learned that it is really tacky to use the tragedy's anniversary as an opportunity for advertising.
Today, the people of the internet shook their heads at two very different companies — Fleshlight and Build-A-Bear — for their commemorating tweets. Build-A-Bear managed to draw more groans than Fleshlight with theirs (which was quickly deleted):
Both of these attempts probably pale in comparison to AT&T's gaffe last year, which looked a little something like this:
It's not the first time that companies have come under fire for attempting to use turmoil to shill their products. Fashion designer Kenneth Cole first sparked controversy back in 2011 during Egypt's revolution, when he tweeted "millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now availbale online."
Cole trivialized political turmoil once more last year, when the United States was debating whether or not to strike Syria, when he tweeted this:
To paraphrase one of my favorite scholars, Regina George, stop trying to make tribute plugs happen. Just don't go there. If you absolutely must do it, then perhaps take Google's approach:
But I have a feeling that companies are better off letting the Internet mourn in peace.
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