Popular pub chain Wetherspoon has found itself in hot water this week after supposedly banning its staff from wearing poppies in the run up to Remembrance Day.
In a Twitter post from the account @Wetherspoon_UK, followers were told: “Due to the ever expanding multiculturalism of our clientele and employees this year our staff will not be wearing the poppy while working.”
In just three days, the post had thousands of reactions and countless more comments from angry pub-goers, many of whom began to make some very controversial statements.
Many Nations fought were wounded and gave their lives in WW1 so they could have safe haven here. It is in their memory that we wear a Poppy.
— martin stevens (@martinw32693026) October 26, 2017
So wrong...Your pubs are in UK. In the UK we respect those that have fallen fighting for this country. where YOU trade.
— Martin King (@RedsVortigen) October 25, 2017
You'll be serving halal beer next and forcing waitresses to serve wearing a burkhaThey're trying to turn buckingham palace into a mosque!
— J-Dawwwg (@JordanCrane97) October 26, 2017
I agree this is a disgrace !! Should be ashamed !!
— Amanda Ceairns (@ceairns_amanda) October 26, 2017
Wonderful then thankfully I’ll never be entering your establishments again wear the poppy with pride
— derr hammer (@Michael21136947) October 26, 2017
This is absolutely appalling !!! Staff should be able wear poppies with pride, our people didn’t fight for our country to become cowards!!!!
— Jodie Hunter (@jodiehunter26) October 26, 2017
The hashtag #BoycottWetherspoons was also quickly picked up with angry users of the site continuing to hit out at the chain.
Apparently Wetherspoons are not allowing staff to wear the poppy this year. If I worked there i'd walk out on the spot #boycottwetherspoons
— Daniel Jenkins (@Djjenks_9) October 26, 2017
So Wetherspoons staff are not allowed to wear a poppy this year in fear of upsetting other faiths? #boycottwetherspoons
— The Squirrel Alveley (@squirrelalveley) October 26, 2017
Disgraceful decision. I will stop going in Wetherspoons as a consequence. #BoycottWetherspoons
— ScorpioAndrew (@31_Barrington) October 26, 2017
#boycottwetherspoons worst decision ever by the company these soldiers fought and died for you to have wealth and greed! #learnsomerespect
— Vicky Beaman (@beaman_vicky) October 26, 2017
Alas, it turns out the “announcement” from a spoof account was not genuine.
For those who know how Twitter works and looked up the account’s biography - and checked for a verified blue tick - it reads: “The high streets favorite pub for drink, food & despair! PARODY! NOT JD Wetherspoon!”
The bloody account says it's a parody. Some people are just thick as
— KB-P (@Bleo1984) October 25, 2017
The real Wetherspoon has since issued a statement on the matter hitting out at “digital trolls” and urging the public to “please ignore spoof sites.”
The team said: “Yet again, the spoof Wetherspoon twitter account @Wetherspoon_UK has crossed the line with its distasteful and insensitive tweet about the wearing of poppies.
We do support the Poppy Appeal in all of our pubs. Please ignore spoof sites.
— J D Wetherspoon (@jdwtweet) October 26, 2017
- Wetherspoon Official pic.twitter.com/pvmApxvCIN
“J D Wetherspoon is in no way connected with this Twitter account and neither shares nor condones its posts.
“In our opinion, although the unofficial spoof account is stated to be a parody account, tweets like this are simply not funny.”
The statement was signed off with the hashtag “#digitaltrolls.”
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