McDonald’s in Portugal has apologised for using the slogan “Sundae Bloody Sundae” in a Halloween campaign for its ice-cream puddings.
It appears the chain decided to celebrate the spooky season with a two-for-one offer on the strawberry dessert and a nod to the early U2 song Sunday Bloody Sunday.
The song focuses on the emotional fallout of a 1972 massacre in Derry/Londonderry by British troops who killed 14 civilians and injured 26 more. The event took place during a Sunday protest rally and was dubbed “Bloody Sunday.”
McDonalds Portugal said the ad campaign was only used by a “small number” of local restaurants.
‘Ignorance is the new cool’
“The campaign was intended as a celebration of Halloween, not as an insensitive reference to any historical event or to upset or insult anyone in any way,” a spokesman was quoted as saying by the Belfast Telegraph.
“We sincerely apologize for any offense or distress this may have caused,” he added. “All promotional material has been removed from restaurant.”
Social media users slammed the campaign online with images spreading on Twitter.
Hate to do this to you McDonalds but Sunday Bloody Sunday is actually about a massacre that happened in Derry in 1972.
McDonalds: Massacre? Eugh. Not eating that again. pic.twitter.com/fC4fCti2IG
— Fintan Walsh (@FintanYTWalsh) October 31, 2019
“Hate to do this to you McDonalds but Sunday Bloody Sunday is actually about a massacre that happened in Derry in 1972,” Irish reporter Fintan Walsh wrote on Twitter, paraphrasing a comedy sketch featuring fictional TV presenter Alan Partridge.
“Ignorance is the new cool,” another user posted.
The restaurant chain had removed all advertising material linked with the ad, according to Portuguese daily Correio da Manha.
Another massacre in Ireland, when British troops opened fire on the crowd at a Gaelic football match in Dublin’s Croke Park stadium in 1920, is also referred to as “Bloody Sunday.”
