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Prince: 6 brands using the superstar's death for self-promotion Prince: 6 brands using the superstar's death for self-promotion
(about 3 hours later)
Celebrities and fans around the world have paid tribute to Prince, the pop superstar, after his publicist confirmed the his death at 57 on Thursday evening.Celebrities and fans around the world have paid tribute to Prince, the pop superstar, after his publicist confirmed the his death at 57 on Thursday evening.
But brands, who tried to join the conversation, struggled to make their tributes heartfelt and not awkward.But brands, who tried to join the conversation, struggled to make their tributes heartfelt and not awkward.
Some failed, turning the tributes into adverts for themselves and suffering from the wrath of the internet.Some failed, turning the tributes into adverts for themselves and suffering from the wrath of the internet.
With social media networks now being part of every major brand marketing scheme, reactions to major news events are key. With social media networks now being part of every major brand marketing scheme, reactions to major news events are key. 
But two companies failed so badly that their tweets have since been deleted from their accounts.But two companies failed so badly that their tweets have since been deleted from their accounts.
Here are our best examples of the brands using Prince's death for self-promotion:Here are our best examples of the brands using Prince's death for self-promotion:
The cereal brand showed the world they cared with careful product placement and the simple caption #prince.The cereal brand showed the world they cared with careful product placement and the simple caption #prince.
The tweet has since been deleted after fans started mocking the brand and blaming it for using the singer's death at its advantage.  A retweet by a fan included the caption: "Imagine Cheerios sending this to you after your dad dies."The tweet has since been deleted after fans started mocking the brand and blaming it for using the singer's death at its advantage.  A retweet by a fan included the caption: "Imagine Cheerios sending this to you after your dad dies."
A tweet from Hamburger Helper, an American packaged food brand, was also deleted after the brand threw its mascot in the caption.A tweet from Hamburger Helper, an American packaged food brand, was also deleted after the brand threw its mascot in the caption.
Commenting on both Cheerios and Hambuger Helper tweets, Alfred Maskeroni, designer and contributor on AdWeek, said both ads suffered from "too much brand presence". Commenting on both Cheerios and Hambuger Helper tweets, Alfred Maskeroni, designer and contributor on AdWeek, said both ads suffered from "too much brand presence". 
“The Cheerios post feels like an ad, and the Hamburger Helper post flippantly, and stupidly, threw the brand mascot into the caption,” Maskeroni wrote on Adweek.“The Cheerios post feels like an ad, and the Hamburger Helper post flippantly, and stupidly, threw the brand mascot into the caption,” Maskeroni wrote on Adweek.
The 3M company, a global science firm formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, kept things simple. It tweeted its logo, coloured it in purple and added a tear.The 3M company, a global science firm formerly known as the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, kept things simple. It tweeted its logo, coloured it in purple and added a tear.
TV logo did pretty much the same.TV logo did pretty much the same.
Getty Images, a photo agency, posted a picture of Prince but also added a link for pictures of the singer available for purchase on its website.Getty Images, a photo agency, posted a picture of Prince but also added a link for pictures of the singer available for purchase on its website.
Users were unahappy with Getty's self promotion and said the photo agency was "capitalising on death" and using Prince to "sell some photos".Users were unahappy with Getty's self promotion and said the photo agency was "capitalising on death" and using Prince to "sell some photos".
Lenovo, a Chinese multinational technology company, did not post its logo or a picture. It did better by comparing its company’s values to that of Prince.Lenovo, a Chinese multinational technology company, did not post its logo or a picture. It did better by comparing its company’s values to that of Prince.
The porn website not only posted a picture but also changed its logo. Appropriate?The porn website not only posted a picture but also changed its logo. Appropriate?
The Independent has contact all brands for comment.The Independent has contact all brands for comment.
"As a Minnesota brand, Cheerios wanted to acknowledge the loss of a musical legend in our hometown. But we quickly decided that we didn’t want the tweet to be misinterpreted, and removed it out of respect for Prince and those mourning," a spokesperson from Cheerios owner, General Mills said."As a Minnesota brand, Cheerios wanted to acknowledge the loss of a musical legend in our hometown. But we quickly decided that we didn’t want the tweet to be misinterpreted, and removed it out of respect for Prince and those mourning," a spokesperson from Cheerios owner, General Mills said.
A spokesperson for the 3M company said they created a "special piece of artwork" to recognize a legendary, Minnesota music icon
"We used the artwork on some of our social media channels for Thursday only," the 3M company said.
Prince's body was found in a lift at his Paisley Park recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on Thursday morning.Prince's body was found in a lift at his Paisley Park recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota, on Thursday morning.
Entertainment website TMZ was the first to report his death, which was confirmed to The Independent by a spokesman. “The news is devastatingly true,” they said.Entertainment website TMZ was the first to report his death, which was confirmed to The Independent by a spokesman. “The news is devastatingly true,” they said.
An investigation was taking place on Thursday into the circumstances surrounding his death. An investigation was taking place on Thursday into the circumstances surrounding his death. 
Concerns about Prince’s health had been raised at least a week previously, when his jet made an emergency landing in Illinois early last Friday morning, on the way back to Minnesota from a concert in Atlanta.Concerns about Prince’s health had been raised at least a week previously, when his jet made an emergency landing in Illinois early last Friday morning, on the way back to Minnesota from a concert in Atlanta.
Prince had been treated for flu at a local hospital in the weeks leading up to his death. After the hospital visit he had appeared at a dance party close to his home, where he did not perform but told the audience: “Wait a few days before you waste any prayers.”Prince had been treated for flu at a local hospital in the weeks leading up to his death. After the hospital visit he had appeared at a dance party close to his home, where he did not perform but told the audience: “Wait a few days before you waste any prayers.”