A bar in New Zealand was slammed by the public after they came up with coronavirus-themed ads to promote their special Corona deal that offers a discount on the beer brand while the outbreak lasts.
The bar behind the controversial promotion is Hamilton-based House on Hood which offers discounted Corona beers “while the pandemic lasts.”
“Virus or no virus, we still think Coronas are pretty great, so while the pandemic lasts, we’re selling Coronas for just $6.50, all day, every day,” the owners of the bar wrote in their Facebook post along with a picture of two men in hazmat suits holding the Mexican beer.
“Mention your corona loving mates to let them know about this great deal and you could be sharing a free one-meter pizza this Friday at House.”
After the controversial post went viral, however, not everyone thought it was funny whereas some people branded it “insensitive” and “disturbing.”
“If the deaths would have happened in NZ then these guys wouldn’t have used this ad. Are they saying that people dying far off do not deserve the same empathy or respect and that their deaths don’t matter,” someone wrote.
“Worst advertisement ever. More than 130 people have died and many more is still suffering, whereas you guys are making fun of it, just to earn more money for your business,” another one added.
In addition to the public backlash, Lion, the beverage company that distributes the beer brand in the country, has immediately requested the bar to remove coronavirus-themed ads.
“We were unaware of the promotion and we do not condone it. We will be asking that it is discontinued,” they announced.
Following the outrage, John Lawrenson, the CEO of the group that owns the bar in question, spoke out and said that the problem is in “small but loud minority of people who get offended by everything.”
“So I’d just like to say thanks to all the snowflakes for the free advertising and thanks to everyone else with a sense of humor who liked the post,” Lawrenson said.
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Replaced!