Digiday Publishing Summit:

Connect with execs from The New York Times, TIME, Dotdash Meredith and many more

SECURE YOUR SEAT
Marketing

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

https://digiday.com/?p=87699
Trending in
Most Read

More in Marketing

View More
Generative AI

Generative AI sparks brand safety concerns marketers know all too well

July 18, 2025

Despite concerns around brand misuse and IP, most marketers are sticking to traditional strategies.

Generative AI

‘Production is a big topic right now’: With AI moving beyond media, Publicis turns toward creative

July 18, 2025

The holdco is positioning AI as core infrastructure for ad production not just media buys.

The header image is an illustration of the Meta or Facebook and Instagram icons atop a pile of gold coins.
Marketing on Platforms

Instagram offers a new guide to advertisers to convince them to try out its creator marketplace

July 17, 2025

The 26-page document aims to make the whole process quick and painless.

DIGIDAY+

Get access to tools and analysis to stay ahead of the trends transforming media and marketing

My Account

Visit your account page to make changes and renew.

logo
© 2025. All rights reserved