Subway branch criticised for 'distasteful' billboard making light of Titanic sub tragedy
4 July 2023, 15:08
A branch of fast-food chain Subway has been slammed for an advert that poked fun at the Titanic sub tragedy that claimed the lives of five people.
Listen to this article
Loading audio...
The Titan submersible imploded in June on its way down to visit the wreck of the Titanic on the seabed, killing all five men onboard.
Stockton Rush, the CEO of OceanGate, the company that manufactured the Titan, Shahzada Dawood, 58, and his son Suleman, 19, along with UK billionaire Hamish Harding and French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet.
It was not immediately clear that the Titan had been destroyed, and its disappearance sparked a huge search-and-rescue effort over several days.
A Subway franchise in the town of Rincon in the US state of Georgia, made a joke about the sub's fate.
"Our subs don't implode," a billboard outside the store read.
The quip immediately drew a backlash from observers, who branded it tasteless.
"This is at your store in Rincon, GA," wrote one user. "Not only is it distasteful, it’s just sad. Do better."
"A little too soon. Still chuckled," another wrote.
News of the Subway franchise's joke reached head office, who said it wasn't a good idea.
The company said in a statement: "We have been in contact with the franchise about this matter and made it clear that this kind of comment has no place in our business."
But others saw the funny side. One Twitter user said that they saw nothing wrong with the joke.
"From personal experience I have never had my subway implode," they added.
