- On Thursday, Rihanna called out Snapchat for showing a now-deleted ad that seemingly made light of domestic violence.
- The singer posted a statement on her Instagram Story criticizing the app for "[spending] money" on something "that would intentionally bring shame to [domestic violence] victims."
- Snap apologized earlier this week for showing the ad, which appeared to joke about Chris Brown's 2009 conviction for assaulting Rihanna.
- In a statement to BBC, the company said the ad was "reviewed and approved in error."
Rihanna has called out Snapchat for showing a now-deleted ad that seemingly made light of domestic violence.
On Thursday, the singer posted a statement on her Instagram Story criticizing the app for "[spending] money to animate something that would intentionally bring shame to [domestic violence] victims."
"All the women, children, and men that have been victims of [domestic violence] in the past and especially the ones who haven't made it out yet ... you let us down!" Rihanna continued. "Shame on you."
Snap apologized earlier this week after removing an ad that people called "insensitive" and "tone-deaf,"BBC reported. The ad, which was apparently for a game, asked Snapchat users if they would rather slap Rihanna or punch Chris Brown.
People quickly took to social media to criticize the ad, which appeared to reference, and joke about, Chris Brown's 2009 conviction for assaulting then-girlfriend Rihanna before the Grammy Awards.
"Is it just me or is this ad that popped up on my Snapchat extremely tone deaf?" Twitter user Royce Mann wrote. Mann also tweeted a screenshot of the ad.
Is it just me, or is this ad that popped up on my Snapchat extremely tone deaf? Like what were they thinking with this? pic.twitter.com/7kP9RHcgNG
— Royce Mann (@TheRoyceMann) March 12, 2018
Activist and writer Brittany Packnett called into question Snapchat's ad approval process. "I know that social media ads go through an approval process from the platform," Packnett tweeted. "This means @Snapchat approved an ad that makes light of domestic violence. The update ain't the only thing that's wack over there, friends."
I know that social media ads go through an approval process from the platform.
— Brittany Packnett (@MsPackyetti) March 12, 2018
This means @Snapchat approved an ad that makes light of domestic violence.
The update ain’t the only thing that’s wack over there, friends. https://t.co/PmbJn4zCel
Agreeing with Packnett, Chelsea Clinton said it was "awful" that any company would approve the ad at all.
Just awful. Awful that anyone thinks this is funny. Awful that anyone thinks this is appropriate. Awful that any company would approve this. Thank you Brittany for calling this out.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) March 12, 2018
Other Twitter users called the ad "disturbing,""disgusting," and "disrespectful."
While Snap did not immediately respond to INSIDER's request for comment, the company told BBC on Tuesday that the ad, which was only shown in the US, was published "in error."
"The advert was reviewed and approved in error, as it violates our advertising guidelines," Snap said in its statement to BBC. "We immediately removed the ad last weekend, once we became aware. We are sorry that this happened."
But Rihanna doesn't seem to be impressed by what the company has to say. After revealing that Snapchat was already not her "[favorite] app out there," the singer told the company to "throw [its] whole [apology] away."
People on social media have also interpreted Rihanna's comments as a call to "throw the whole app away"— and they're doing exactly that.
well... now that rihanna said it... time to delete snapchat
— Joe (@syxele) March 15, 2018
Rihanna said we should delete our snapchat for their domestic abuse joke. Our president has spoken therefore i’m deleting snapchat. pic.twitter.com/nLvB2okCRa
— c (@kidcudison) March 15, 2018
rihanna said it’s cancelled therefore snapchat is officially dead! https://t.co/YCxaiRmyK6
— 🧚🏽♂️ (@beyonseh) March 15, 2018
Read Rihanna's full Instagram Story below:
"Now SNAPCHAT I know you already know you ain't my fav app out there! But I'm just trying to figure out what the point was with this mess! 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 [domestic violence] victims and made a joke of it!!! This isn't about my personal feelings, cause I don't have much of them...but all the women, childrn, and men that have been victims of [domestic violennce] in the past and especially the ones who haven't made it out yet....you let us down! Shame on you. Throw the whole app-oligy away."
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