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JD Wetherspoon denies poppy ban after Twitter hoax causes uproar JD Wetherspoon denies poppy ban after Twitter hoax causes uproar
(about 1 month later)
Pub chain responds after ‘parody’ account’s post blaming multiculturalism prompts boycott threats
Martin Belam
Fri 27 Oct 2017 12.10 BST
Last modified on Mon 30 Oct 2017 10.49 GMT
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The pub chain JD Wetherspoon have clarified that it has not banned staff from wearing Remembrance Day poppies, after a spoof Twitter account claimed it had.The pub chain JD Wetherspoon have clarified that it has not banned staff from wearing Remembrance Day poppies, after a spoof Twitter account claimed it had.
We do support the Poppy Appeal in all of our pubs. Please ignore spoof sites.- Wetherspoon Official pic.twitter.com/pvmApxvCINWe do support the Poppy Appeal in all of our pubs. Please ignore spoof sites.- Wetherspoon Official pic.twitter.com/pvmApxvCIN
The fake account generated a lot of angry replies after claiming “ever expanding multiculturalism” was the reason staff would not be wearing poppies this year.The fake account generated a lot of angry replies after claiming “ever expanding multiculturalism” was the reason staff would not be wearing poppies this year.
Due to the ever expanding multiculturalism of our clientele and employees this year our staff will not be wearing the poppy while working.Due to the ever expanding multiculturalism of our clientele and employees this year our staff will not be wearing the poppy while working.
wetherspoons are a disgrace and will not get another penny of me.banning staff from wearing poppies due to multiculturalism.wetherspoons are a disgrace and will not get another penny of me.banning staff from wearing poppies due to multiculturalism.
One user created a #BoycottWetherspoons hashtag to spread the news, but not everybody was impressed.One user created a #BoycottWetherspoons hashtag to spread the news, but not everybody was impressed.
The sheer inability to check even the simplest, most obvious of facts is one of the greatest dangers in modern society #BoycottWetherspoonsThe sheer inability to check even the simplest, most obvious of facts is one of the greatest dangers in modern society #BoycottWetherspoons
Some customers reacted with initial dismay, only to realise they had been fooled.Some customers reacted with initial dismay, only to realise they had been fooled.
This is a sad day and last time I drink in one of your pubs.This is a sad day and last time I drink in one of your pubs.
Must learn to read whole thread before getting hooked like that again..thank fuck it’s a wind up, would’ve missed a pint with a full EnglishMust learn to read whole thread before getting hooked like that again..thank fuck it’s a wind up, would’ve missed a pint with a full English
Other social media users posted about the impact the spoof was having on friends and familyOther social media users posted about the impact the spoof was having on friends and family
God sake, come home for half an hour today to discover my mum is organising a Wetherspoons boycott because of a parody tweet about poppies 🙃God sake, come home for half an hour today to discover my mum is organising a Wetherspoons boycott because of a parody tweet about poppies 🙃
The rumour subsequently took off on Facebook, with one user posting: “Let’s get something cleared up here. I have just opened up my page and I find I am inundated by messages telling me to avoid Wetherspoons as they are not allowing staff to wear the poppy,” before going on to dismiss the story as a hoax and threaten to delete friends who continued to post it.The rumour subsequently took off on Facebook, with one user posting: “Let’s get something cleared up here. I have just opened up my page and I find I am inundated by messages telling me to avoid Wetherspoons as they are not allowing staff to wear the poppy,” before going on to dismiss the story as a hoax and threaten to delete friends who continued to post it.
The Wetherspoons social media team stepped in to reply to lots of comments on Twitter, seemingly to the delight of the fake account, which posted a video of scrolling through all the replies.The Wetherspoons social media team stepped in to reply to lots of comments on Twitter, seemingly to the delight of the fake account, which posted a video of scrolling through all the replies.
Did you get upto anything exciting at work today? 😂🎣#PoppyGate pic.twitter.com/5UgnbOD7wGDid you get upto anything exciting at work today? 😂🎣#PoppyGate pic.twitter.com/5UgnbOD7wG
Twitter’s terms and conditions on parody accounts state that their biography “should indicate that the user is not affiliated with the account subject by stating a word such as ‘parody’, ‘fake’, ‘fan’ or ‘commentary’.”Twitter’s terms and conditions on parody accounts state that their biography “should indicate that the user is not affiliated with the account subject by stating a word such as ‘parody’, ‘fake’, ‘fan’ or ‘commentary’.”
Companies and brands can complain to Twitter about parodies, and Wetherspoons has previously had spoof accounts shut down, but Twitter warns that “an account that complies with our parody policy may not be found to be violating our trademark or impersonation policies”.Companies and brands can complain to Twitter about parodies, and Wetherspoons has previously had spoof accounts shut down, but Twitter warns that “an account that complies with our parody policy may not be found to be violating our trademark or impersonation policies”.
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