Uh-oh SpaghttiOs: Pasta company sparks outrage after tweeting an inappropriate advert on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor

  • 'Take a moment to remember #Pearlharbor with us,' read the tweet last Friday night
  • The tweet went along with a cartoon of an 'O' shaped pasta with its tongue hanging out and holding up an American flag
  • The Campbell's owned company issued a formal apology and took down the posting after public outcry

By Alexandra Klausner

PUBLISHED: 16:01 EST, 7 December 2013 | UPDATED: 22:07 EST, 7 December 2013

SpaghettiOs made a faux pas on the 72nd anniversary of Japan's attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base when it decided to remember the event by tweeting a photo of it's grinning mascot with an American Flag.

'Take a moment to remember #Pearlharbor with us,' read the tweet last Friday night.

Pearl Harbor commemorates the death of 2,386 Americans and is a national tragedy.

spaghettio

This photo of a smililing pasta-O holding an American flag left many saying, 'oh no'

The company's attempt to sell SpaghettiOs with a smile on a tragic remembrance got some twitter users talking.

'Hope nobody minds if I chose to remember Pearl Harbor and forever forget @SpaghettiOs. #TastelessCorporation,' said twitter user simply Laura.

'I can't wait for the official @spaghettiOs 9/11 tweet,' said Suzan Eraslan.

'@SpaghettiOs maybe sit out the next couple plays,' said Andy Levy.

Once SpaghettiOs caught wind of the fact that they offended the blogosphere, they issued a formal apology on December 7.

'We apologize for our recent tweet in remembrance of Pearl Harbor Day. We meant to pay respect, not to offend.'

Marketingland.com reported that the offensive tweet got over 3,000 retweets but not out of popularity, rather out of disgust.


spaghettios

SpaghettiOs issued a formal apology on December 7 and deleted their original posting

They have since deleted their original posting.

According to thinkprogress.org,this is not the first time corporations have tried to use public holidays to promote their brand--even if it's considered inappropriate.

On Veterans' Day, the movie Man of Steel tweeted out a picture of their movie along with a 'thank the troops message.'

The brand Kenneth Cole tweeted during the revolutionary uprise in Egypt and said, 'Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new Spring collection is available online.

SpaghettiOs which is an American brand under the umbrella company Campbell's Soup features circular pasta covered in a cheese and tomato sauce. It comes in a can and is marketed to parents as 'less messy' than regular pasta.

If only the same thing could be said about their 'messy' advertising practices.

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Alexandra It's tongue is not "hanging out" it is licking it's lips.

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I doubt that 5% of Americans could tell you when Pearl Harbor day is. It's ridiculous to criticize someone who remembers it.

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How is this inappropriate? People are too sensitive these days.

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It's called respect, you don't hike your goods at a funeral, so don't hike them on remembrance days, if you don't get that you're so very disillusion.

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We live in a world full of people who have way too much time on their hands and that get offended by the littlest things. Who honestly cares what this company said on their twitter account about Pearl Harbor OH MY GOD GET A LIFE

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At least they remembered.

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People over there should get a life. Start complaining when some filth sets fire to your national symbol of remembrance and your government and judiciary does nothing to stop it.

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I for one am glad that Spaghetti-Os commemorated Pearl Harbor. The criticisms are hollow.

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......oh no....!!!! how dare SpaghttiOs use freedom of speech !!!!!!!! and then apologize for speaking freely...!! there are billions of people and as you can tell by red and green arrows, some are offended some aren't..... quit apologizing for freedom...!!!!!!!!!

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I think some people are either overly sensitive or are just looking for something to complain about. At least they made an effort to remember our fallen vets.

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