Well. We certainly didn’t expect to spend the 72nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor writing about SpaghettiOs. But as Twitchy reported, SpaghettiOs’ remembrance tweet featuring the company’s grinning mascot inspired a flood of criticism, as well as backlash against the backlash.
Here’s the tweet that caused the stir.
http://twitter.com/#!/SpaghettiOs/status/409162874184298496
Is the flap over? While some remain offended, Twitter reaction now leans in favor of “nontroversy.”
@SpaghettiOs Accepted, thanks.
— Jef Poskanzer (@jefposk) December 7, 2013
@SpaghettiOs No need to apologize. Your intentions were noble. Thank you for remembering.
— Tim Masterson! (@TimJMasterson) December 7, 2013
https://twitter.com/chuck_dizzle/status/409361089868996608
https://twitter.com/ChrisBarnhart/status/409361565578563584
@blabbincabin Hunh. I wasn't offended. @hopedellon
— (((kalen))) (@kalenski) December 7, 2013
An apology was not necessary. It was a well intended message and I thought it was quite cute. @SpaghettiOs #PearlHarbor
— Tim D Knight (@tim_knight) December 7, 2013
https://twitter.com/dijama/status/409363771652837376
Hey @SpaghettiOs maybe you thought it over and wanna hire me as your PR Specialist? I could've prevented this! #butreally #paidinternship?
— Marissa Gomez (@ItsLikeMarissa) December 7, 2013
@SpaghettiOs it was tasteless can't imagine what you were thinking.
— patrick keyes (@pckeyes) December 7, 2013
It was good intentions at least RoboKat @AnnKateri04 @SpaghettiOs
— Gringo Suave ?? (@2009superglide) December 7, 2013
@ksnapp87 Highly insensitive image of a piece of pasta that SpaghettiOs used to memorialize Pearl Harbor. Now deleted
— Just Blum (@theblumandonly) December 7, 2013
In typical fashion, @SpaghettiOs has made the apology, deleted the offending post & is walking some #SocialMedia manager to the gallows!
— Barry Cunningham (@barrycunningham) December 7, 2013
ProTip: @SpaghettiOs keep the marketing geared towards the kids & not on sacred days of remembrance! Thx for retract & apology.
— Techn0cratic™ ✊? #BLM! (@techn0cratic) December 7, 2013
https://twitter.com/Agent_Zeero/status/409367324005642240
I think I'm more offended by the fact @SpaghettiOs has over 11K followers.
— Sarah LaPolla (@sarahlapolla) December 7, 2013
Uh oh, SpaghettiOs:
.@SpaghettiOs Your apology will NOT be accepted unless it comes from the offending Spaghetti-O itself. HAND HIM OVER.
— Jim Gabriel (@flipyourface) December 7, 2013
Moving on:
Forget SpaghettiOs: Here’s a much better use of social media on #PearlHarbor72.