Snapchat has apologised after hosting an ad asking users to “slap Rihanna or punch Chris Brown.”
The ad appeared as part of a ‘would you rather’ game that was reviewed and approved by Snapchat “in error,” according to Mashable.
The ad referenced Brown’s assault against Rihanna in 2009 which he was convicted of.
Is it just me, or is this ad that popped up on my Snapchat extremely tone deaf? Like what were they thinking with this? pic.twitter.com/7kP9RHcgNG
— Royce Mann (@TheRoyceMann) March 12, 2018
A statement issued to the publication by Snapchat said that they were “sorry” for the ad and that it violated their advertising guidelines.
They said:
“The ad was reviewed and approved in error, as it violates our advertising guidelines.
We immediately removed the ad last weekend, once we became aware. We are sorry that this happened.”
The ad has since been removed, but not before social media users picked up on it and shared in around Twitter.
They were, understandably, not overly impressed with its content.
I want to know why this Rihanna/Chris Brown Snapchat ad was even designed or intended for – let alone approved?
Who commissioned it? Why did the link to each lead to? WTactualF!? https://t.co/bnnt8i2HDl
— Jarrett Hill (@JarrettHill) March 13, 2018
I know that social media ads go through an approval process from the platform.
This means @Snapchat approved an ad that makes light of domestic violence.
The update ain’t the only thing that’s wack over there, friends. https://t.co/PmbJn4zCel
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) March 12, 2018
I don’t use @Snapchat and anyone who does really should question how this was approved for their site. Disgusting…Domestic violence is not a GAME!
— Cookieboo23 (@23Cookieboo) March 12, 2018
Brown was arrested in 2009 for attacking Rihanna and sentenced to community service and domestic violence counselling.
At the time, Rihanna filed a restraining order against Brown but the pair have since seemingly appeared to have reconciled.
