LONDON -- Once upon a time a politician called Ed Balls accidentally tweeted his own name, Ed Balls, to thousands of followers.
It wasn't a massive balls up but of course everyone pounced, retweeting and favouriting the offending message with abandon.
Here's the tweet.
Ed Balls— Ed Balls (@edballsmp) April 28, 2011
It was posted four years ago, and now Apr 28 has become Ed Balls Day, or #EdBallsDay.
Morning all and Happy Ed Balls Day. Just spotted this at Balham. #EdBallsDay pic.twitter.com/rN6Rm5fiQN— Andy Lang (@HRH_Duke_of_Url) April 28, 2015
Ed Balls doesn't really know what to do about it.
"The trouble with the day itself is that there is a dilemma," he said earlier this year. "There’s one group of people who think if I don’t engage somehow on the day, I’m a bad sport. And if I do engage, there’ll be another whole group of people who’ll say, ‘Oh, God, he’s ruined it.’
Everyone else, on the other hand, runs with it annually.
People make cakes.
Cake for breakfast! After all...it's Ed Balls day! Have a good one! #EdBalls #EdBallsDay pic.twitter.com/K325rdkKWO— Tattooed_Mummy (@tattooed_mummy) April 28, 2015
They celebrate with the Ed Balls Lonely Hearts Club Band.
#EdBallsDay pic.twitter.com/OYjMtivNhr— Xpat (@shiremoorpotter) April 28, 2015
They write poems.
Here is a poem which looks at the true significance of #EdBallsDay It's called "Ed Balls". pic.twitter.com/LcMdhJ0NA7— Brian Bilston (@brian_bilston) April 28, 2015
It's an international affair.
Our American cousins commemorate #EdBallsDay pic.twitter.com/RoxczljXQc— Michele Paule (@michele_paule) April 28, 2015
Of course Google gets involved.
Love the Google doodle today. #EdBallsDay pic.twitter.com/rAhVwt5NSp— James Martin (@Pundamentalism) April 28, 2015
And it has all got a bit commercial.
How are you celebrating #EdBallsDay ?? pic.twitter.com/0fbDR66n57— Instruct (@instruct) April 28, 2015
Brands are quick to chip in.
Good morning, @EdBallsMP. Your pizza is ready. Many happy returns... #EdBallsDay pic.twitter.com/wTDKY682tb— Pizza Hut UK (@pizzahutuk) April 28, 2015
HAPPY #EDBALLSDAY EVERYONE #holidaysarecoming pic.twitter.com/85fyVA0Iml— Ed Balls (@zenajarjis) April 28, 2015
Balls, meanwhile, isn't too fussed. “Who in postwar British politics has had a day named after them?" he asked. "You take what you can, really, don’t you?”
Ed Balls joined in the fun last year.
Sorry... But this is getting really weird.. RT @FelicityMorse: Ed Balls makes it onto a train sign pic.twitter.com/4uTwixFfXL— Ed Balls (@edballsmp) April 12, 2013
He also caved in Tuesday afternoon with a 2015 update.
Here we go again… ! RT @edballsmp: Ed Balls pic.twitter.com/EhIPfbmQRo— Ed Balls (@edballsmp) April 28, 2015
Happy Ed Balls Day.