A Coca-Cola 9/11 Tribute Is Getting Slammed on Twitter

September 9, 2016, 1:55 PM UTC
Soft Drink Manufacture At A Coca-Cola Co. Factory
Sealed six packs of Coke Zero sugar free soft drink cans move along a conveyor following manufacture at the Coca-Cola Co. factory in Dongen, Netherlands, on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016. Coca-Cola, the world's largest soft-drink company, last month posted second-quarter sales that missed analysts' estimates as falling revenue abroad outweighed modest gains in the U.S. Photographer: Jasper Juinen/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Photo by Jasper Juinen—Bloomberg via Getty Images

This story has been updated to reflect a response from Coca-Cola.

On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers in New York City were destroyed. 15 years later, the day was commemorated with cases of Coca-Cola.

A Walmart shopper at a location in Panama City Beach, Fla. noticed the display on Tuesday and posted a picture to Twitter. It depicts Ground Zero assembled using cases of Coke Zero against an American flag backdrop, with rollback prices being advertised right above it.

The picture has since been retweeted thousands of times, with many Twitter users venting their disappointment.

But many other Twitter users either saw nothing wrong with the display or appreciated the tribute.

A Walmart (WMT) spokesperson told the Orlando Weekly that Coca Cola (KO) generally comes up with display ideas, though the retailer gives the final approval. “We hold this moment in our country’s history in the highest regard, and there was nothing disrespectful intended by the display being assembled,” a Walmart spokesperson told Fortune. He added that the display was removed from the Florida store on Wednesday.

Coca-Cola apologized in a statement to Fortune: “This display was meant to honor local firefighters and to support their organization’s upcoming event. We sincerely apologize that anyone was offended or misunderstood its intent, and we have replaced the display.”

Coca Cola is not the only company with questionable 9/11-themed advertising. A San Antonio-Texas mattress store made a video spoofing the Twin Towers falling to advertise a “Twin Tower Sale,” according to Dallas News. The video has been removed from the company’s Facebook page with an apology.

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