Source: SOPA Images / Getty
Snapchat once again proves why it has become the bottom when it comes to social media platforms and probably has no Black employees on staff either.
The once-popular social media tool, thanks to DJ Khaled, had to issue an apology. While the world is finally giving Juneteenth its due, Snapchat decided it would get in on the fun by rolling out an absolutely tone-deaf snap filter. The filter in question that is drawing the ire of users requires them to “smile” to break the chains located behind them in front of a Pan-African flag.
Atlanta-based digital strategistย Mark S. Luckie blessed us with a demonstration of the foolishness in a tweet with the caption:
“This SnapChat #Juneteenth filter is…um…interesting.”
Not feeling Snapchat trying to ruin Juneteenth with its headassery, Twitter users quickly slammed the company, forcing them to apologize. In a statement sent to The Verge, a spokesperson for Snapchat claims a “diverse group” worked on the lens, but a version went live that was not approved through the companies review process.
“We deeply apologize to the members of the Snapchat community who found this Lens offensive. A diverse group of Snap team members were involved in developing the concept, but a version of the Lens that went live for Snapchatters this morning had not been approved through our review process. We are investigating why this mistake occurred so that we can avoid it in the future.”
Well, Twitter doesn’t believe them one bit.
You can see the responses to the tone-deaf Snapchat filter in the gallery below.
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Photo: SOPA Images / Getty
1.
this Snapchat filter is so classless LMFAOOOO https://t.co/phXDcV5eyy
— ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฅ (@TheCourtKim) June 19, 2020
2.
this was obviously a misfireย but I am confident that Snapchat will eventually figure out a tasteful and appropriate slavery filter that we can all enjoy
— Law Boy, Esq. (@The_Law_Boy) June 19, 2020
3.
um.
— EricaJoy (@EricaJoy) June 19, 2020
do we need to get into this or do you think snapchat knows why this is fucked up? https://t.co/B8fKPNlxGt
4.
yoooooo, I barely get on Snapchat but I had to see what the tea was... yalll .. wtf ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ smile you break the chains ???? Deadass ? ๐คฃ pic.twitter.com/GWdvpmsAkv
— ๐ (@_BodyBySunny) June 19, 2020
5.
snapchat removes the what filter that asked you to do what- https://t.co/cnKiTybD5p
— back by popular demand ๐๐พ (@SpookyAnarchist) June 19, 2020
6.
Meet the creative team who designed the @Snapchat Juneteenth filter pic.twitter.com/tiYwcweyMA
— Dantรฉ Lastrassi (@gcm85) June 19, 2020
7.
aaaand this is what happens when you donโt have any black people on the product design team. As a Snap alumni, this is extremely embarrassing. It doesnโt have to be this hard - how about an AR experience to inform your 229 million daily active users what Juneteenth is? @Snapchat https://t.co/XmVioMcj8B
— ๐๐๐๐๐๐ (@whoopthis) June 19, 2020
8.
Lmfao man snapchat really created a filter for Juneteenth, where ya gotta smile to break the chains. While people fucking ridiculous ๐ญ๐ญ๐๐
— nee (@_EboneeXoXo) June 19, 2020
9.
Snapchat had to have so many meetings to launch their #Juneteenth filter. And at no point did anyone with decision making power stand up and say, "THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE IDEA."
— Sam White (@samwhiteout) June 19, 2020
Disappointed & angry, but entirely unsurprised. https://t.co/2Kn2RUoUoP
10.
I literally thought the Juneteenth snapchat filter thing was an onion article at first. Holy shit.
— Emma Handy, Goblin Matron (@Em_TeeGee) June 19, 2020