OPINION: A Snapshot of Snapchat’s Rihanna and Chris Brown Ad Controversy
Meghan Salinas, Associate Writer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Vision NGU or North Greenville University.
Photo courtesy: pixabay,com
When Chris Brown and Rihanna started dating in 2008 people said that the couple were a match made in pop music heaven. It seemed completely true, until the hideous break up leading Chris Brown into jail and rehab with domestic abuse charges for hitting Rihanna.
Then Snapchat does the unpredictable and reminds its users of how the Brown and Rihanna incident went eight years ago by posting an advertisement. The advertisement was for a game called, “Would You Rather!” and it showed pictures of both Brown and Rihanna and the words, “slap Rihanna” and “punch Chris Brown” followed.
Following the backlash after the advertisement was seen by over a million users, Snapchat pulled the ad and publically apologized to both celebrities involved. Snapchat said, “The ad was reviewed and approved in error, as it violates our advertising guidelines. We immediately removed the ad last weekend, once we became aware. We are sorry that this happened.”
Well, I guess the apology was a step in the right direction. But what’s next? The spokesperson of Snapchat reminded users that the advertisement of the game was not affiliated with Snapchat or Snapchat Inc. and crossed many ethical guidelines as well.
The situation is eight years old and the advertisement just opened back up a healed wound. America hasn’t forgotten about the incident that happened but it has become old news. America is focusing on current news and not choosing to remember the mistake that Brown had made almost 10 years ago.
The advertisement was trying to make a joke out of domestic violence and that is something that will not go without harsh punishment. The advertisement slipped through Snapchat’s screening and reviewing process when it comes to the advertisements they show and with that, I do believe that Snapchat Inc. should be ashamed of themselves even though they weren’t the ones who put the game together.
They let it fly through the radar for some reason. They allowed an advertisement that made light of domestic abuse slip through their reviewing process. Talk about a rookie mistake.
Snapchat has blocked the game that showed the advertisement, which is a step in the right direction. Snapchat’s well deserved punishment? A $1.3 billion drop in market value after celebrity, Kylie Jenner, tweeted that she would no longer use the app because of the scandal.
