Why The Internet Is Roasting Domino's Response To The Queen's Death
Following the end of Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign, the world is mourning the monarch, who died on September 8 at age 96, via the BBC. The longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch most Britains have known. The people of the U.K. are joined in mourning by dignitaries who worked with the queen and commoners who were romanced by the crown.
Just as in life, there is royal etiquette surrounding how to mourn Queen Elizabeth II properly. The queen's death comes with a protocol meant to be followed with precision. Referred to as "Operation London Bridge," the country will be guided through the queen's 'painstakingly choreographed funeral plan' and acceptable 'rituals of tribute' over the next ten days (per New York Times). Makeshift memorials dot the streets of the U.K., while bereaved Brits are honoring the queen by leaving flowers, poems, and letters to the monarch.
Along with U.K. citizens, companies are paying tribute to the queen too. Google and BP paid homage by changing their logo colors to black, according to The Northern Echo, and department stores Liberty and Selfridges closed retail locations out of respect for the queen, per The Retail Bulletin. While most tributes might be received as intended, certain businesses are being called out on social media for being seen as disrespectful or controversial. Domino's Pizza is facing scrutiny for its Twitter post, causing the internet to question whether the company should've said anything at all.
Domino's tribute to the queen
Found in 90-plus international markets, Domino's Pizza has taken some punches lately. In August, the company closed its 23 locations in Italy after failing to make its American style of pizza popular with Italians over the course of seven years (via CNN). In response to the queen's death on Thursday, Domino's Pizza U.K. stated via Twitter, "Everyone at Domino's joins the nation and the world in mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Our thoughts and condolences are with the Royal family." Although the company blocked users from commenting on the tweet, over 2,500 reposted, adding their thoughts on the tribute.
The message was not well-received by various commenters. Some Twitter users, like Brian Tallerico, joked about the post: "Now that Domino's has weighed in, we can heal. In 30 minutes or less." User ForgetfuIPerson, who made references on their account to British colonialism in connection with the queen, responded to Domino's U.k. with a gif of the Irish flag. Some tweets, however, questioned how Domino's would profit from the queen's death. User Mesh stated in part that it was "a touching statement but definitely hoping to cash in on people in mourning not being able to cook dinner and ordering a takeaway instead."
Although it's tempting for companies to stay relevant and be a part of every discussion, The Takeout writes that it's okay for food brands to exercise the "don't post" option, which can be just as loud.