Microsoft has apologized for posting an inappropriate Tweet capitalizing on Amy Winehouse‘s death to promote their Zune products. The official PR Twitter account for XBox3260 UK posted a Tweet telling followers to pay tribute to the singer by downloading her music from them. The response to what many saw as a greedy attempt to capitalize on the singer’s death was not positive.
“Remember Amy Winehouse by downloading the ground-breaking ‘Back to Black’ over at Zune” the Tweet from @tweetbox360 rudely proclaimed. Followers immediately began slamming back, saying the Tweet was just greedy capitlization on the singer’s death.
One responder, @izzyizzo, replied “Slick move, Bill & Steve.” @thisisthebang said “Microsoft – failing at social media” in response to the Tweet. Another sarcastically called Microsoft a “class act” and @sharnajackson just called the whole thing “gross.”
Two hours after posting the original Tweet, @tweetbox360 followed up with a much delayed apology. “Apologies to everyone if our earlier Amy Winehouse ‘download’ tweet seemed purely commercially motivated. Far from the case, we assure you,” the first message said. A second stated: “With Amy W’s passing, the world has lost a huge talent. Our thoughts are with Amy’s family and friends at this very sad time.”
Microsoft wasn’t the only business to stupidly use Amy Winehouse’s death as an opportunity to market themselves. Esquire Magazine posted a Tweet on Monday saying “meet the stylish man who inspired Amy Winehouse” with a link to an article called “In Tragedy, a Style Appreciation for Blake Fielder-Civil.”
Blake Fielder-Civil is, of course, Amy Winehouse’s ex-husband, who more than a few people blame for helping the British singer down the destructive path of drug and alcohol addiction. The two also reportedly had a rather abusive physical relationship at times, with both appearing in public with injuries allegedly caused by the other person.