Snapchat's 'Slap Rihanna' Ad Draws Backlash

Celebs are constantly in the public glare. Their deeds and misdeeds are out in the open for the world to look at. But that doesn't mean anyone can pick on them and shame them. That's exactly what multimedia platform, Snapchat, did earlier this week. The app featured an advertisement for the users, asking them whether they would want to “slap Rihanna” or “punch Chris Brown” or neither. This was in reference to 2009’s incident where Brown had assaulted Rihanna.

Utterly insensitive

The advert sparked outrage, and rightly too. Many celebrities came out in support of the popstar. Following the outrage, the ad was pulled down by Snapchat along with an apology statement issued by the platform.

“This advertisement is disgusting and never should have appeared on our service,” the statement said.

“We are sorry we made the terrible mistake of allowing it through our review process. We are investigating how that happened so that we can make sure it never happens again,” - Snapchat

But is a mere apology enough?

On Thursday, March 15, Rihanna took to Instagram stories to throw some light on the entire issue. The story read, "Now SNAPCHAT I know you already know you ain't my fav app out there! But I'm just trying to figure out what the point was with this mess!" 

She further wrote, "I'd love to call it ignorance, but I know you ain't that dumb! You spent money to animate something that would intentionally bring shame to <domestic violence> victims and made a joke of it!!! This isn't about my personal feelings, cus I don't have much of them...but all the women, children and men that have been victims of DV in the past and especially the ones who haven't made it out yet...you let us down!"

"Shame on you. Throw the whole app-oligy away."

Following this, a large number of users took to social media and announced their decision to quit the usage of this application once and for all. This is not the first time Snapchat has goofed up.

Well, Snapchat, as a public platform, you cannot go on with your self quoted “disgusting” ways and not face the music!

Feature image source: Rollingstone.com, March 26, 2015.

Bhawna Bisht Is An Intern With SheThePeople.TV

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