The same day that news broke of the beheading of American journalist Steven Sotloff, Sleepy Hollow's marketing team released promos for its "National Headless Day." The marketing team behind the campaign and Twentieth Century Fox are now apologizing for the poor timing.
The "National Headless Day" campaign was part of advertising for the season one DVD release of Sleepy Hollow. Entertainment Tonight Online reports the campaign involved the collecting and sharing of "National Headless Day" themed E-Cards. In a statement, the marketing firm responsible for the campaign, Think Jam, apologized for the poor timing and admitted that emails regarding "National Headless Day" were sent out just as the news of Sotloff's execution was released.
"The tragic news of Steven Sotloff’s death hit the Web as the email was being sent...Our deepest sympathies are with him and his family, and we don’t take the news lightly. Had we have known this information prior, we would have never released the alert and realize it’s in poor taste," the statement said according to The New York Daily News.
Twentieth Century Fox also released an apology saying, “We regret the unfortunate timing of our announcement and our deepest sympathies go out to the families of all involved."
The public has also reacted through social media with the hashtag #headlessday becoming a trend on Twitter.
I guess we now know that ISIS is really just a part of Fox's marketing department. #HeadlessDay
— Hunter Boyette (@HunterBoyette) September 3, 2014
I think ISIS should have to apologize to Sleepy Hollow for ruining their #HeadlessDay promo
— Tyler Morrison (@tylermorrison1) September 3, 2014
No sympathy for the lead on the #headlessday blunder. That campaign should've been nixed weeks ago after the first IS assassination #noclass
— Kevin Cassidy (@SocialKev) September 3, 2014
Photo Courtesy of: INFphoto.com
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