Dunkin' Donuts Apologizes for Angering Liverpool Soccer Fans

See what the company did to one English team's crest

ByABC News
February 26, 2015, 10:44 AM
An image posted to the Dunkin' Donuts Twitter account shows the Liverpool Football Club team crest next to a similar crest designed to promote the company's products.
An image posted to the Dunkin' Donuts Twitter account shows the Liverpool Football Club team crest next to a similar crest designed to promote the company's products.
Twitter/Dunkin' Donuts

— -- Dunkin' Donuts is apologizing today for "insensitivity" in a tweet that enraged many English soccer fans.

The food chain, based in Canton, Massachusetts and a sponsor of Liverpool Football Club, tweeted from the company's official account on Wednesday night with a re-design of the Liverpool crest. Their design used doughnuts and cups of coffee in place of flames that are in memory of 96 fans killed in what's described as Britain's worst sporting disaster.

The original tweet, which was later deleted, stated: "Love the LFC crest? Tweet us what you'd want on your personal crest & we might surprise you w/ your own! #LFCReDDs"

Liverpool fans were not pleased.

On April 15, 1989, 96 Liverpool fans were crushed to death and hundreds were injured at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, which was hosting the FA Cup semifinal.

"We apologize for any insensitivity regarding our tweet supporting an LFC-themed promotion featuring the LFC Crest," read a statement from Dunkin Donuts, provided to ABC News. "As a proud partner of LFC, we did not intend any offense, particularly to the Club’s supporters. We have removed the tweet and halted the campaign immediately."

PHOTO: In this file photo dated April 17, 1989, soccer fans arrive to pay their respects at Hillsborough Football Stadium, after the April 15 tragedy when 96 fans were crushed against a barrier when the crowd surged forward during a game.
In this file photo dated April 17, 1989, soccer fans arrive to pay their respects at Hillsborough Football Stadium, after the April 15 tragedy when 96 fans were crushed against a barrier when the crowd surged forward during a game.

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