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Brands remind us on Twitter that they will #NeverForget

By Digiday  •  September 11, 2014  •

There are many reasons a brand might want to chime in on a national or cultural event on Twitter. They want to be part of the conversation; they want to be seen as relevant or with it. Ultimately, they want to sell their product.

Today brands — from White Castle to Walmart — want to “commemorate” 9/11, to let us all know that they will #NeverForget. For that, let’s be grateful. Because how else would we have remembered an unprecedented attack on American soil that took thousands of lives and still reverberates in the headlines daily, 13 years later?

Last year we asked if brands should even be tweeting on days like today. Apparently they know what’s best. So, thanks, brands, for reminding us of what really matters on this anniversary. And hey Applebee’s, save us some potato skins.

Build-A-Bear

Screen Shot 2014-09-11 at 11.02.41 AM

This might be 2014’s worst brand 9/11 tweet. But then, the day’s not over yet. No wonder it was removed almost immediately. Too bad, though, that the Internet #NeverForgets.

Tied To the South

Screen Shot 2014-09-11 at 11.53.59 AM

This one comes a close second, and was obviously removed too.

Bikram Yoga, Arlington

Screen Shot 2014-09-11 at 11.53.51 AM

Wow. This tweet was also removed. Looks like someone made these Bikram enthusiasts sweat a little too much. 

Intimacy Box

Oooh, mustn’t dally!

Cold Fusion Juice

Ok, we might be able to get behind the sentiment here, guys. Nice one.

Yucatan Guacamole

Ooops. Looks like they deleted the tweet — and the image that went with it. Fortunately we have a screengrab:

Screen Shot 2014-09-11 at 12.26.30 PM
Hmmm. Is that a memorial reflecting pool … or a giant guacamole bowl? Can’t tell.

White Castle

This makes us feel as gross as we do after scarfing a six pack of sliders.

Fleshlight

Fleshlight, for the record, makes fake vaginas. Thanks, Fleshlight.

Other companies, like Barney’s, the New England Patriots and Urban Outfitters too joined the fray.

The following, however, were not quite as cringe-worthy:

AT&T

Looks like someone learned its lesson last year.

Dunkin Donuts  

Dunkin Donuts kept it simple with flags demonstrating remembrance and solidarity.

Delta

Using a popular quote that sums up everyone’s feelings. Well done, Delta.

Applebee’s

Some lazy real-time marketing from the fast-food chain, but at least its message is hard to argue with.

Walmart

Macy’s


Burlington Coat Factory

There was one brand, though, that really got it right. Everyone else take note: If you’re trying to sell us something, this probably how you should handle 9/11.

Verizon

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