Virgin Mobile suspends Twitter campaign featuring gunsight after Paris shootings

Tim Burrowes

November 15, 2015 7:48

Telco brand Virgin Mobile has deleted an ad campaign on Twitter featuring a gunsight after complaints it was in poor taste in light of the Paris terrorism atrocities.

The original tweet – to encourage interaction with the brand on Twitter – was posted a fortnight ago. But it appeared in users’ feeds in the hours after the killings because the brand had paid to promote the tweet before the tragedy occurred.

Those who were served the tweet quickly criticised its timing – and questioned whether the use of a gunsight was appropriate.

After removing the post, Virgin Mobile said it had done so “out of respect”

Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the publisher of Mumbrella and Unmade. He co-founded Mumbrella in 2008 and sister title Unmade in 2021. He's worked in the UK, Middle East, Asia & Australia and has specialised in writing about the communications world for the last 25 years. He wrote the book Media Unmade, published in 2021, and became the presenter of MediaLand on ABC Radio National in 2025.