Virgin Mobile suspends Twitter campaign featuring gunsight after Paris shootings

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.