Tweets, posts denounced for 9/11 insensitivities on anniversary of attacks

AT&T and Esquire were among companies to issue apologies for offensive content appearing in tweets or on websites on the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

Members of Congress and President Obama commemorated the day in press statements and speeches. But a number of organizations, from sports teams to mobile phone carriers, received flak on Twitter for perceived insensitivities on the day.  

{mosads}The mobile carrier AT&T had to walk back a tweet in which a picture of a hand holding one of its mobile phones was placed in the New York City skyline, accompanied by the words “Never Forget.”

We apologize to anyone who felt our post was in poor taste. The image was solely meant to pay respect to those affected by the 9/11 tragedy.

— AT&T (@ATT) September 11, 2013

Esquire magazine apologized for what it called a “stupid technical glitch” for using the iconic picture of a man plummeting from the World Trade Center next to a banner reading, “Making your morning commute more stylish.”

Relax, everybody. There was a stupid technical glitch on our “Falling Man” story and it was fixed asap. We’re sorry for the confusion.

— Esquire Magazine (@Esquiremag) September 11, 2013

The magazine had reprinted a story about the event earlier in the day. 

The Los Angeles Lakers quickly deleted a tweet that showed a picture of Kobe Bryant from the 2001-2002 season with the hashtag #NEVERFORGET splashed over it. 

In a statement to USA Today, a Lakers spokesman said it used the picture to show the small ribbon and American flag that was sewn on the Lakers jerseys that year in honor of those killed. 

#lakers clarify tweet that upset a lot of folks today, from @sam_amick at @USATODAYsports : http://t.co/crndJ2nFZg

— Kevin Spain (@kevin_spain) September 11, 2013