Snapchat pulls Juneteenth filter after severe backlash, issues apology

Snapchat has been forced to remove a selfie filter meant to “celebrate” Juneteenth after severe backlash on social media pointing out  blunder. In an insensitive and failed attempt to symbolise end of slavery, Snapchat interactive filter asked users to “smile” in order to “break chains”.

Ashten Winger, a former Snapchat employee and member of Black community, said that it was an outcome of absence of Black people in design team. Calling it “extremely embarrassing”, Winger said that social media company should have rar used an Augmented Reality experience to inform its millions of active users about significant day in history of United States.

Social media was abuzz with latest filter, raising concerns over way Snapchat was trying to “celebrate” Juneteenth. Digital strategist Mark Luckie wrote in a tweet, This SnapChat #Juneteenth filter is...um...interesting. Smile to break chains? Okay n.”

Re: Snapchat To Stop 'promoting' Trump Amid Uproar Over Tweets

'Deeply apologise'

Apologising for offensive Snapchat filter, company said in a statement that it was t approved through "review process" and an investigation was underway to avoid such mistakes in future. In a separate statement to Variety, social media firm claimed that a diverse group of Snap team members were involved in development of filter.

Juneteenth, also kwn as Freedom Day, is celebrated every year on June 19 to mark end of slavery in United States after a long Civil War. It marks anniversary of day when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received news about victory of Union forces, almost two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln issued Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

Re: What's Twitter Fleet? Is It Similar To Snapchat Or Instagram Stories? All Details Here