This British store's awkward use of #RIPPrince went down very badly
LONDON -- The way brands use trending hashtags has always been something of a thorny issue.
In the hours after Prince's death was confirmed on Thursday, various companies -- from Chevrolet to Pornhub -- had paid some form of online tribute to the singer. Some brands tweaked their logos or the colour of their websites. Many tweeted with the #RIPPrince hashtag.
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On Friday morning, British home improvement chain store Homebase sent the following tweet from their official customer service account.
The tweet -- which was deleted within a couple of hours of being sent -- quickly started getting attention. The responses ranged from mockery to anger.
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This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
In fairness, we don't know what the motivations behind the tweet were. It could have been a mistake, or maybe even an awkward (but well-intentioned) tribute that came across as an afterthought at best and a cynical attempt to reach a wider audience at worst.
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When Mashable reached out to Homebase, they sent the following response: "We sincerely apologise for any offence this has caused."
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