Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola have apologized for handing out controversial napkins to passengers on flights, Insider reports.
The napkins varied in text and generally encouraged passengers to flirt “old-school” style with one another, which creeped people out. A Delta spokesperson said the airline “missed the mark” with the marketing tactic, and a Coca-Cola spokesperson said the napkins are being removed and replaced with a new design.
“We rotate Coke products regularly as part of our brand partnership, but missed the mark with this one,” a Delta spokesperson told Insider. “We are sorry for that and began removing the napkins from our aircraft in January.”
“We sincerely apologize to anyone we may have offended,” a Coca-Cola spokesperson told INSIDER.
On the of the napkins, there is space for the name and number of your “plane crush.”
“Because you’re on a plane full of interesting people and hey … you never know,” one of the napkins read.
Another said: “Be a little old school. Write down your number and give it to your plane crush. You never know…”
The napkins were rolled out in January—but rolled back in the same month following backlash on social media.
“Hey @Delta and @CocaCola These napkins are creepy AF,” one person tweeted. “Pretty sure no one appreciated unsolicited phone numbers in the ‘good old days’ and they sure as heck don’t want the number of someone who has been gawking at them on a plane for hours today. Not a good look.”
https://twitter.com/ducksauz/status/1087424701838684162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1087424701838684162&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisisinsider.com%2Fdelta-apologises-for-creepy-diet-coke-napkins-which-told-passengers-to-flirt-2019-2
https://twitter.com/LMCatalano/status/1090780347564990464
One user invoked the Me Too movement with a #TimesUp.
#delta #coke remove these napkins they are creepy 🥺 #TimesUp #boycottcoke pic.twitter.com/Kj5v4wsWjZ
— CEMGO1 (@CEMGO1) February 1, 2019
“Napkins received from @Delta on Wednesday flight seem unintentionally creepy, especially after reading the smaller print. Swing and a miss, @DietCoke,” another tweeted.
https://twitter.com/MJJoe/status/1091133757313171456
Some people, though, didn’t mind the napkins and even tweeted in support of the companies.
@Delta thanks for helping us #single out! can you ship me a box of these napkins so i can use them everywhere, while i sip my @CocaCola? Pretty please?! 💘💘 pic.twitter.com/MiucrGbVbS
— Payal Lohia (@payalofthoughts) February 4, 2019
@Delta and @CocaCola I thought the napkins were absolutely hilarious!!!
— YoliB (@profkeepitreal) February 6, 2019
Thanks @CocaCola and @Delta, for encouraging people to TALK to one another, make new friends, or do anything besides stare mindlessly at phones. But don’t you know it’s practically illegal to flirt these days? Sad world, but nice try & not #creepy https://t.co/5xvmHXSo80
— Ashley Bergin (@punkmarkgirl) February 6, 2019
“@Delta I support you and those cute ass napkins! Lol people always finding a way to be mad. Sincerely- a happily partnered male looking at the lighter things in life,” user @bphunter07 wrote.
https://twitter.com/bphunter07/status/1093235957736734721
@Delta I think your #DietCoke napkins are hilarious, not creepy. 👍
— Ninja Misty (@Ninja_Misty) February 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/claireeethomps/status/1093228311411654657
So people thought those Coca Cola napkins on Delta flights were weird. I think it shows that we really don’t want any social interaction.
— Sundown of Act Proof (@sundownActProof) February 6, 2019
H/T Insider
