Delta Air Lines and Coca-Cola have issued apologies after travelers were provided with napkins on flights that featured controversial writing.
The napkins told passengers flying with Delta to “write down your [telephone] number and give it to your plane crush.” The other side of the napkin, which featured the Diet Coke logo said, “because you’re on a plane full of interesting people and hey… you never know.”
The napkin also provided travelers with a space to write a telephone number and a name.
While the napkins appear to be a light-hearted attempt at humor around Valentine’s Day, some people were offended and took to social media to air their grievances:
Hey @Delta and @CocaCola These napkins are creepy AF. Pretty sure no one appreciated unsolicited phone numbers in the ‘good old days’ and they sure as heck don’t want the number of someone who has been gawking at them on a plane for hours today. Not a good look. pic.twitter.com/PJAiurFRMh
— ducksauz (@ducksauz) January 21, 2019
Napkins received from @Delta on Wednesday flight seem unintentionally creepy, especially after reading the smaller print. Swing and a miss, @DietCoke. pic.twitter.com/eKaMruqqUR
— Mike J (@MJJoe) February 1, 2019
#delta #coke remove these napkins they are creepy #TimesUp #boycottcoke pic.twitter.com/Kj5v4wsWjZ
— [email protected] (@ceokeeffeaolco1) February 1, 2019
On the other hand, some travelers defended the napkins:
Thanks @CocaCola and @Delta, for encouraging people to TALK to one another, make new friends, or do anything besides stare mindlessly at phones. But don’t you know it’s practically illegal to flirt these days? Sad world, but nice try & not #creepy https://t.co/5xvmHXSo80
— Ashley Bergin (@punkmarkgirl) February 6, 2019
Clever! Love the new napkins @Delta @DietCoke @CocaCola @ATLairport pic.twitter.com/wgOhWKw9J1
— Ben Starling III (@benstarling3) February 1, 2019
@Delta I support you and those cute ass napkins! Lol people always finding a way to be mad. Sincerely- a happily partnered male looking at the lighter things in life.
— Brent Hunter (@bphunter07) February 6, 2019
Despite the mixed reaction, Delta and Coke have since apologized for the napkins and said they missed the mark. The airline started removing the napkins from planes in January and Coca-Cola said they would be replacing the design.
