An offensive ad on Snapchat asking users if they would rather “Punch Chris Brown” or “Slap Rihanna” has become the talk of the town, it has spawned widespread outrage, including Rihanna herself.
The company behind the visual-messaging app has released profuse apologies. According to the Snapchat, it is an investigation how the offensive ad called “Would You Rather” made it to multimedia messaging app which popular in North America and Europe.
Rihanna released an angry statement on her Instagram and Snapchat accounts. The 30-year-old singer wrote, “I’m just trying to figure out what the point was with this mess!” She continued, “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 DV victims and made a joke of it!!!”
“Shame on you” the songstress went on to say. “Throw the whole app-oligy away.”
Snapchat apologizes for offensive ad that made light of domestic violence, asked users if they’d like to slap Rihanna: https://t.co/SWpKGdmLAU pic.twitter.com/5FiguHwqpF
— The Root (@TheRoot) March 15, 2018
A Snap, Inc. spokesperson said in a statement, “This advertisement is disgusting and never should have appeared on our service.” The statement continued, “We are so sorry we made the terrible mistake of allowing it through our review process.”
The ad for a mobile video game called “Would You Rather” is now blocked from advertising on Snapchat. According to the Snapchat, most of its advertising is bought via a self-service platform, however, it is subject to review that should have banned the ad.
Brown was convicted of assaulting the singer when she was in a relationship with him back in 2009, he pleaded guilty in the same year to felony assault for his attack on the singer just hours before the Grammy Awards.
The offensive ad and Rihanna’s angry response made has spawned widespread outrage on Twitter, many users vowing to delete their Snapchat accounts.
