We’ve had some pretty epic social media fails recently. First there’s this Gary Lineker-shaped calamity, then we had Aldi’s missguided ‘fill in the blank’ fiasco. And who could forget Kendall Jenner’s stinking Pepsi ad that tried to solve all racism with fizzy pop? Not a good day in the office for whoever dreamed those up. But it could have been so much worse. They could’ve been working for Susan Boyle back in 2012.
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We’re talking, of course, about #susanalbumparty. It’s exactly 10 years to the day since Twitter invented the hashtag (the tagging tool, not the actual character) and they’ve been asking people to name their favourite ever usage of the symbol. As a result, this unfortunate social media scandal has resurfaced.
Originally posted to promote the release of her album, the hashtag read #susanalbumparty. It should have read #SusanAlbumParty. But predictably, keyboard warriors everywhere read it as #SusAnalBumParty. The naughty scamps hijacked Boyle’s innocent promotional stunt and gave it a filthy twist. Now, instead of being remembered as Britain’s Got Talent‘s second big opera singer, she’ll be remembered as the middle-aged celebrity who invited her entire fan base to a raunchy sex party.
Here’s how people are paying tribute to this most epic of Internet-based disasters:
By brushing up on their grammar
The hashtag is 10 years old #Hashtag10
Who can forget #susanalbumparty and the importance of capital letters! ?— Ste ? LFC (@SteMcKenna) August 23, 2017
When your greatest achievement comes back to haunt you
https://twitter.com/rickburin/status/900367312607363072
But you can’t help trying to relive the past
Can we get #susanalbumparty trending again for #Hashtag10?
— SamanthaTheWise (@SamanthaTheWise) August 23, 2017
Will someone think of the PRs?
can't stop thinking about how poor susan boyle's pr team started the hashtag #susanalbumparty to promote her album
— alan (@hatefollower) August 23, 2017
By resurrecting defunct print titles
Too damn funny!
RT @JennyJohnsonHi5: Sweet dreams. #SUSANALBUMPARTY pic.twitter.com/nkRYLcLv8U
— MrJRB (@jbarsody) August 18, 2017
This clever lad who STILL has the screenshot from the original tweet
Some hashtags will never be forgotten. #susanalbumparty for one!#hashtag10 pic.twitter.com/lVOrwrum16
— Dr Jez Phillips (@drjezphillips) August 23, 2017
This GIF to end all GIFs
The Twitter hashtag is 10 years old today. Let's all just remember #susanalbumparty #Hashtag10 pic.twitter.com/2m9YqxDaZz
— Tony Shepherd (@tonysheps) August 23, 2017
When life gives you lemons…
I never did get an invite to #susanalbumparty ?#Hashtag10
— Jordz (@Flash_Jordon) August 23, 2017
By reminding everyone how lucky we are
It's the 10 year anniversary of the #hashtag today. Imagine a world without #susanalbumparty. Doesn't bear thinking about ??? #Hashtag10
— Digitas UK ®️? (@Digitas_UK) August 23, 2017
Even your mum’s favourite supermarket got in on the action
https://twitter.com/IcelandFoods/status/841963124911669248
Think you know a worse PR Twitter fail? Let us know in the comments below.