Sorry, FAFSA. You can't make jokes about money.
The Office of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) apologized on Wednesday morning for a tweet it sent out the night before from the FAFSA Twitter account that some have found offensive.
The tweet, which has since been deleted, included the Bridesmaids meme in which a drunk Kristen Wiig gets kicked out of first class on a flight after trying to sneak in, saying, "Help me, I'm poor." FAFSA added text to the meme: "If this is you, you better fill out your FAFSA." It was most likely intended as a light-hearted way to engage students on social media, but instead provoked outrage from those who deemed it offensive and mocking toward low-income students.
FAFSA has since issued the following apology tweet:
We apologize for the insensitivity of our previous tweet. Our goal is to make college a reality for all. We're very sorry.— Federal Student Aid (@FAFSA) June 25, 2014
Blogger Liz Gross pointed out that the meme has been used by students in context while complaining about financial aid and FAFSA, but perhaps it's not as funny coming from the government office handling your student loans.
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