While it was not the intention, Paramount Pictures inadvertently made a reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks through their advertisement of the Sept. 11 Australian release of the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" film.

On Tuesday, Paramount, with the Twitter handle @ParamountAU, posted a photo of the movie poster showing the turtles as they fall from an exploding building. It is accompanied by the caption that informed the audience of its official release in cinemas on the infamous date, Variety reports.

Although it was an unintentional allusion, the overall combination of elements of the release date with the imagery provoked outrage from the online community. The image was eerily similar to how desperate victims leapt from the windows of the collapsing building.

The tweet was deleted soon after it was posted but copies were preserved online. Paramount, meanwhile, was prompted to release a public apology to Buzzfeed in which the company explained that it was a mistake. "Combining that image and date was a mistake. We intended no offense and have taken immediate action to discontinue its use," the statement said.

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" is an upcoming science-fiction action film that is a reboot of the original film series of the franchise of the same name. It stars Megan Fox (April O'Neil), Pete Ploszesk (Leonardo), Alan Ritchson (Raphael), Noel Fisher (Michelangelo), and Jeremy Howard (Donatello), while the voicing for Leonardo is done by Johnny Knoxville. Splinter will be portrayed by Danny Woodburn, while the character of the turtles' ninjutsu master is voiced by Tony Shalhoub.

Following the original premise of the show, the team of Turtles will battle villains to save the city from Shredder's evil plans. The team works with the fearless reporter April and her cameraman Vern Fenwick.

The film, produced by Michael Bay's Platinum Dunes production company and Nickelodeon Movies, is scheduled for release in cinemas on Aug. 8 while it premiered in Mexico City on July 29.