As the world watches the terrible events unfolding in the Ukraine, audiences are very sensitive to what they’re absorbing minute to minute on television.
CNN discovered that on Thursday when they started trending for the wrong reasons on social media.
Several social media users pulled a toss to commercial that featured sirens from Kyiv as the city braces for the worse one second, and then a joyous Applebees commercial the next.
The ad features the song “Chicken Fried” by the Zac Brown Band, as well as dancing cowboys and beer.
While television production seldom figures in what the commercials bookending their content will consist of, it resulted in an experience that looked obilivious to what was taking place with the Russian invasion.
You can look at some of the tweets below…
WW3 sponsored by Applebees.
We’re living in an episode of South Park.
— NUFF (@nuffsaidny) February 24, 2022
Applebees couldn’t get a Super Bowl commercial, so they took the WW3 CNN slot. Savage. https://t.co/3PWl7lW8Eu
— chill beloved. (@VeryBlesseth) February 24, 2022
This missile attack is brought to you by Applebees!!
THIS is CNN… pic.twitter.com/JIUIhrQBHh
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) February 24, 2022
Russia Invades Ukraine brought to you by Applebees!pic.twitter.com/buD9oJGej6
— Left Flank Veterans (@LeftFlankVets) February 24, 2022
Applebees said they gone get these lunch specials off https://t.co/EohPmNIy4I
— Stoop Kid (@jaytitan76) February 24, 2022
It’s so fucking awkward that CNN will cut from an interview with a Ukrainian family that has had their home bombed and lost everything to a commercial with upbeat music for fucking Applebees so quickly.
— Christian Rivera (@IWDominateLoL) February 24, 2022
This was just a tough transition for CNN and Applebees here. Can’t say the Zac Brown Band loved this one pic.twitter.com/ZFUXFsr5Es
— Conor Sheeran (@TheNJMick) February 24, 2022
The nuclear apocalypse is brought to you by Applebees https://t.co/Pi90xMVHew
— Rick ❎ (@flippantflaneur) February 24, 2022
applebees execs right now https://t.co/Ra7AIrdPJF pic.twitter.com/jlVO11g6Qw
— D̒͂̕ᵈăᵃn̕ᶰ Ť̾̾̓͐͒͠ᵗe͗̑́̋̂́͡ᵉn̅ᶰtᵗl̀̓͘ᶫe̓̒̂̚ᵉrʳ (@Viss) February 24, 2022
Y’all remember on Talledega Nights when there was a crash and they said it was going to be a long crash and so they went to an Applebees commercial? How did that become real life? pic.twitter.com/K9BfN49Qr8
— Мullet Man (HONK HONK) 🇺🇸 (@Mullet_Simp) February 24, 2022
Applebees: Lets take some ad space on CNN. What could go wrong?
CNN:pic.twitter.com/f0fE4BM6Ss
— Josh Gross (@josh3302) February 24, 2022
We now interrupt the war report for a pressing applebees commercial https://t.co/3nDkHQKusY
— 🏚💫 (@BeenServin) February 24, 2022
Applebees really wanted that ad revenue huh?pic.twitter.com/1DVexgeVbn
— JOLLY J✨ (@DynamoSuperX) February 24, 2022
This invasion is brought to you by Applebees
pic.twitter.com/HR9s1r71It— Molero (@oquedizmolero) February 24, 2022
Applebees is the official sponsor of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Halftime Show pic.twitter.com/3Xi8ZXe7Oy
— GeoffinLincoln (@GeoffinLincoln) February 24, 2022
None of the other networks have changed their commercials with both FOX and MSNBC both running familiar ads during the crisis. CNN does have correspondents on the ground in Ukraine and in Russia reporting up to the minute developments.
Applebees had experienced over 14,000 mentions on Twitter for the placement, more than any other commercial this year that wasn’t aired on Super Bowl Sunday.
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