Police apologise for ill-thought out and bizarre tweet
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In today's 'wtf were you thinking?' news, a New Zealand police force have issued an apology for a poorly thought-out and insensitive tweet.
The rise of the digital age has seen some incredible developments in the way social media is harnessed by emergency services and news outlets in times of crises.
However, sometimes official accounts just *slightly* miss the mark, as the New Zealand police quickly found out when they posted the following tweet:
Credit Twitter
As though the ghost of Michael Scott himself got hold of the Twitter account, the police genuinely used a MEME to relate the feeling of officers telling people a loved one has died.
In a mixture of shock and complete bewilderment, people were quick to criticise the inappropriateness of the tweet:
Is it just me or this tweet going to get deleted? https://t.co/MUmnYyNvvP
— Ben Uffindell (@BenUffindell) October 9, 2017
OK, it's only Monday, but this tweet by NZ Police already takes the booby prize for social media fail of the week. Tone-deaf. pic.twitter.com/w4xG3NAyPL
— Nik Dirga (@nikdirga) October 9, 2017
That is SO not ok. wow.
— J9 (@NanaJ9) October 9, 2017
Staggering that anyone even considered tweeting that, let alone searched for the meme, drafted the tweet & then shared with the world!
— Scott Warren (@scott___warren) October 9, 2017
Recognising that the tweet probably was a bit ill-thought out, the police quickly deleted it, as well as offering what seemed like a genuine apology:
Telling someone their loved is not coming home is one of the hardest things cops ever have to do.
— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) October 9, 2017
We apologise for the recent road safety tweet. We quickly realised it was wrong & insensitive & it was immediately deleted. Thx for feedback
— New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) October 9, 2017
... Although it does seem slightly concerning that they required 'feedback' to realise it definitely was NOT okay to use a meme, OF ALL THINGS, to discuss the death of loved ones.
But hey, at least they owned up and admitted it wasn't the best of ideas.
