Spirit takes flak for exploiting celeb photo scandal
Spirit Airlines, a company not exactly noted for being publicity shy has struck again.
The ultra-low cost carrier has stoked the ire of twitter users with a "distasteful" promotion taking advantage of the celebrity nude photo hacking scandal.
The company sent out an email to customers playing on its ongoing ‘Bare Fare’ marketing theme.
The email read: "We feel naked; you were never supposed to see this Bare Fare! It was meant for a special someone (who isn’t you). Now it’s all over the Internet for you to take advantage of as you see fit. Scandalous!"
Branding consultant Rob Frankel called the ad "creatively bankrupt."
"Somewhere between distasteful and ingenious is really, really stupid, and when you use an event and you use it so clumsily, you are asking for trouble," Frankel added.
There has been a flood of outraged Twitter users calling the company insensitive and tasteless for exploiting the scandal as a way to sell more tickets.
The airline has defended the email, saying it was not meant to be offensive.
"We have a long history of taking major, national news stories and connecting them to our marketing and most people think they’re funny, and accept them for what they are, said N. Paul Berry, director of public and media relations
"We realize and accept that a small group of people might not think the same way," Berry added.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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