Delta’s Gaffe With a Giraffe

by | Jun 17, 2014 | Notes From Nini |

Delta’s Gaffe With a Giraffe

Delta World Cup TweetA little homework, common knowledge and respect might have saved Delta from international shame.

In a tweet ridiculed around the world, the airline saluted the United States’ 2-1 win over Ghana in the World Cup with the scores superimposed over images of the Statue of Liberty — and a giraffe of all things.

The global gaffe recalls stereotypes associating Africa with Tarzan and monkeys. It also feeds into criticism that Americans are too xenophobic and ignorant to care or learn about other cultures.

Delta apologized on Twitter and on its website:

“Last night, we posted a congratulatory message on Twitter and Facebook to the U.S. Soccer team on its win in a World Cup game. The message used an image of a giraffe to represent Ghana. The image was both inaccurate and inappropriate.”