Brands’ commemorations of 9/11 meet varied reactions
While some social media remembrances were deemed understated and respectful, others were viewed as crass attempts to cash in on a solemn anniversary.
The anniversary of the 9/11 attacks has become a national day of remembrance. As such, marketers must tread lightly. What could start as something meant to honor those who lost their lives on this national day of mourning could quickly become a PR nightmare. We can’t blame Marriott corporate, but we can point the finger at whichever Marriott location decided free mini-muffins and coffee were an appropriate way to commemorate this day:
What pic.twitter.com/L35ytAtCWP
— Drink and Fight (@eclectrica) September 11, 2013
AT&T also caught the ire of several Twitter users when it tweeted a photo that has since been taken down. GeekWire has the full story and the vitriol—oh, the vitriol—that followed the photo, which featured an AT&T phone displaying the skyline of Manhattan with lights beaming from where the Twin Towers stood. The company came back with this apology:
We apologize to anyone who felt our post was in poor taste. The image was solely meant to pay respect to those affected by the 9/11 tragedy.
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