Kim's ‘private island’ tweet
In late October, with COVID-19 raging, Kim Kardashian West merrily tweeted: “After 2 weeks of multiple health screens and asking everyone to quarantine, I surprised my closest inner circle with a trip to a private island where we could pretend things were normal just for a brief moment in time.” An incredulous social media responded by turning her words into a meme, with brands from Planters to Chuck E. Cheese crafting their own versions. (See also 9 tweets that defined 2020.)
Gal Gadot’s ‘Imagine’
Even the best intentions can't always prevent a tone-deaf outcome, as Gal Gadot found out when, early on in the pandemic, the “Wonder Woman” star released a video of herself and famous friends singing John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Lines like “imagine no possessions,” sung by a bunch of multimillionaires in their stylish apartments with ocean views didn’t go down well with people losing their livelihoods.
Brands and Instagram’s 'BlackOutTuesday'
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, various brands participated in the #BlackOut Tuesday movement on Instagram, posting nothing but black squares. But many were quickly called out for hypocrisy, including the Washington Football Team whose name was still Redskins at the time, and Amazon, which was accused by the ACLU of “selling face recognition surveillance technology that supercharges police abuse.”