Looks like Paramount made a serious blunder with its Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 9/11 poster.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 9/11 poster briefly hit the social media before being immediately pulled out. Apparently someone at the studios failed to recognize the irony in the message.
Although the poster has been removed and Paramount has formally apologized for the mishap, the photo went viral online, attracting outrage and criticism.
Offensive messages are serious mistakes online, especially on social media. The recent TMNT poster was as suggestive as it gets, but the powers that be at the studios overlooked the irony of a poster of four ninja turtles jumping out of an exploding building, on a movie billed to screen September 11.
It's important to note the poster was an advert for Paramount Pictures Australia, though, not Paramount US. Still, few people took the accidental pun lightly (moviepilot.com).
Paramount Australia released a statement regarding the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 9/11 poster, stat after removing the photo from Facebook and Twitter accounts.
"Combining that image and date was a mistake. We are deeply sorry to have used that artwork for the marketing materials promoting the September 11 opening in Australia. We intended no offence and have taken immediate action to discontinue its use."
The image in the poster resembled the tragedies of people jumping to their deaths during the 9/11 attacks, and response in social media was understandable.
"Bad move. Poor taste."
"Really? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles jump out of fiery NY tower in poster for film released Sep 11."
"How did this slip by the marketing team?"
"Target demographic is either too young to remember or born after 9/11, and this is a foreign market - I forgive them."
"Not being from Australia, I'm not certain how much of an impact the date has on them. They probably didn't even think of it."
Many took Paramount Australia's mistake with a grain of salt, but the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 9/11 poster is a serious marketing blunder, all things considered (bbc.com).
The movie stars Megan Fox and Johnny Knoxville, scheduled for a US release August 8.
