KLM, Mexico & World Cup Twitter: Royal Dutch Airline Apologizes After Tweet Offends Mexican Fans
Following Mexico's crushing loss to the Netherlands on Saturday, knocking it out of the World Cup, Royal Dutch Airline KLM took to social media to gloat.
KLM tweeted a photo of an airport departure sign with the caption "Adios Amigos!" Next to the word "Departures" was a cartoon image of a man with a mustache wearing a sombrero, Fox News Latino reported.
On Sunday, Marnix Fruitema, KLM's North America director general, issued a formal apology.
"In the best of sportsmanship, we offer our heartfelt apologies to those who have been offended by the comment," Fruitema said.
The airline said it was meant as a joke, but Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal was outraged, blasting KLM in a tweet and vowing to never fly with the airline again. The picture drew a lot of criticism from others as well and was taken down half an hour later.
KLM spokeswoman Lisette Ebeling Koning told The Associated Press the company wasn't trying to offend Mexicans, whom the airline serves with direct flights from Mexico City to Amsterdam, Fox reported.
"It was meant to be a joke," Koning said. "But there was too much negative reaction."
Mexico's national airline, AeroMexico, tweeted a photo supporting the national soccer team and the trip home after the team lost.
"Gracias por este gran campeonato, estamos orgullosos y los esperamos en casa #VivaMexico," AeroMexico wrote, which translates to, "Thank you for this great championship, you've made us proud and we're waiting for you at home."
Costa Rica beat Greece on Sunday in a shootout and will face off against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals Saturday.
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