Cheerios and Hamburger Helper deleted tweets they created in tribute to iconic Minnesota musician Prince’s death on Thursday, following backlash from social media users.
Cheerios' post included the words, "Rest in peace," with a Cheerio dotting the "i," over a purple background, along with the hashtag #Prince.
Hamburger Helper, meanwhile, tweeted a picture of Prince with the text, "Prince was the don of Minneapolis. Respect to the home team. A glove can only take so much sadness." The "glove" refers to the brand's Helping Hand mascot.
Twitter users criticized both brands for inserting their products into the conversation around a celebrity death.
Although the tweets were only up for a short time, social media users took screenshots before the brands deleted them. However, even after the tweets were canned, Twitter users continued to blast the brands' "tasteless" posts.
The brands' faux pas follows Crocs' David Bowie tribute mishap in January.
Here's how the Twitterverse responded on Thursday:
Dear Companies- This is @cheerios. Cheerios did a tasteless. Cheerios did a dumb. Don't be Cheerios #Prince pic.twitter.com/lifaEJML3V
— Foodmancing® (@Foodmancing) April 21, 2016
@Momentrabbit pic.twitter.com/p3zVtuMyDI
— Julia/LeDiva (@lediva) April 21, 2016
Product placement meets mourning.
— Royston (@Dr_Royston) April 21, 2016
(This is what it sounds like, when gloves cry):
"@lediva: @Momentrabbit pic.twitter.com/OwjJAzcqs9"
Here's that insanely stupid and now-deleted @cheerios tweet about #prince. pic.twitter.com/y98YEgEjoh
— Andy Paras (@AndyParas) April 21, 2016
Prince died but don't forget to eat Cherrios https://t.co/EkIl4w3urM
— Xaddy (@AJCtown) April 21, 2016
The @cheerios tweet about @Prince isn't going over too well pic.twitter.com/nVqAUUD6oC
— Jim Hammerand (@mspbjHammer) April 21, 2016
prince died. buy cereal. https://t.co/uXzdNsdRjC
— Steve Kovach (@stevekovach) April 21, 2016
Wtf Cheerios? #Prince pic.twitter.com/enkArbaCMq
— jack wilkinson (@jaksilvershore) April 21, 2016
You can acknowledge something without inserting your brand or making it about you.
— Chris Yandle (@ChrisYandle) April 21, 2016
Cheerios? Try again. pic.twitter.com/zgQPHF3abd
Some Twitter users didn’t understand why Cheerios deleted the tweet.
@cheerios i liked your prince tweet don’t let anyone tell you how to mourn
— Caro (@socarolinesays) April 21, 2016
This is how others paid respect to the singer, who was found dead on Thursday at the age of 57.
3M
— 3M (@3M) April 21, 2016
Minnesota Vikings
We've lost a legend way too soon. #RIPPrince pic.twitter.com/m1NLeLDDwG
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 21, 2016
Minnesota Twins
Fitting that it's raining in Minneapolis today. pic.twitter.com/s5KFurDhHi
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 21, 2016
NASA
A purple nebula, in honor of Prince, who passed away today. https://t.co/7buFWWExMw pic.twitter.com/ONQDwSQwVa
— NASA (@NASA) April 21, 2016
The Weather Network
It's a sad day for the music world with a 100% chance of purple rain #RIP #Princehttps://t.co/2NslEiTZOr
— The Weather Network (@weathernetwork) April 21, 2016
Dictionary.com
In loving memory of Prince, the embodiment of music royalty.
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) April 21, 2016
Royalty defined: https://t.co/g6iPD0PwNh pic.twitter.com/SbKQz0EGRt
Adobe Creative Cloud
"Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people." -Prince
— Adobe Creative Cloud (@creativecloud) April 21, 2016
Image source: https://t.co/YuLN1Y13sP pic.twitter.com/aodhSn3Zs6
