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Harvey Norman deletes Twitter account after social media backlash

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Major Australian retail brand Harvey Norman has deleted its brand Twitter account after social media backlash.

The controversy began after Harvey Norman’s Twitter account responded to an account by the name of @sisyphysical on 28 May.

The Twitter exchange that has landed Harvey Norman in hot water

The backlash on Twitter was swift, with many criticising the brand’s glib response.

As of 1 June 2021, it appears that Harvey Norman has deleted its Twitter account. Going to the brand’s Twitter page results in a “This account doesn’t exist” page.

Harvey Norman’s current Twitter page

Harvey Norman is one of Australia’s major retail brands and one of the biggest advertisers in the market.

Harvey Norman has already been subject of negative media attention after its founder, Gerry Harvey, revealed the business would not return $14.5 million in taxpayer-paid JobKeeper funds, despite company profits increasing by 116% during the pandemic. The news triggered staff protests, which erupted outside Harvey Norman stores across the country as disgruntled employees demanded wage increases in line with the company’s record-breaking profit increase during the pandemic.

Mumbrella has contacted Harvey Norman for comment but had not received a response before publishing.

Read founder of Pure Public Relations Phoebe Netto’s op ed about the Twitter-led PR disaster here.

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