Subway slammed over 'distasteful' joke about doomed Titantic sub

03 July 2023 , 21:36

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A Rincon, Georgia, Subway store came under fire for a sign it posted outside its facility (Image: Google)

A local fast food franchise attempted to turn tragedy into opportunity and subsequently suffered a maelstrom of negative internet publicity.

It's been just slightly over two weeks since OceanGate's submersible Titan imploded as it ventured down to the wreckage of the Titanic, killing all five men on board.

British explorer Hamish Harding, British billionaire Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman, French explorer and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet and OceanGate's own CEO Stockton Rush lost their lives on June 18 when the submersible historically imploded.

A Subway in Rincon, Georgia, decided to capitalise on the publicity the incident garnered by making a joke about the doomed vessel in an advertising ploy.

'Possible human remains' were found inside the imploded submersible (Canadian Press/REX/Shutterstock)

"Our subs don't implode," read a sign outside the store, which has since been removed.

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Passersby were quick to catch the advert and took to Twitter to share it — and many weren't very impressed with its message.

"@SUBWAY This is at your store in Rincon, GA," wrote user @Amanda72118560. "Not only is it distasteful, it’s just sad. Do better."

A sign outside a Georgia Subway reads, 'Our subs don't implode' (Amanda72118560/Twitter)

"Too soon but at any other time would be funny," replied @KatDeBaca.

"A little too soon. Still chuckled," wrote @OIFVET02.

Pictures of the sign eventually made their way to the desk of Subway officials, who were quick to chastise the Rincon, Georgia, franchise for its poor taste.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, the company wrote: "We have been in contact with the franchise about this matter and made it clear that this kind of comment has no place in our business."

Other Twitter users found the sign hilarious, however, and bashed those who didn't find it as humerous.

The implosion of Titan killed all five crew members inside (PA)

"Cry about it..." wrote @WilliamNall02 in response to @Amanda72118560. "This is Georgia… not California… go back home snowflake."

"It's a joke lighten tf up," added @Mads6769.

One user even turned the outrage over Subway's joke into a joke of its own.

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"Amanda, I see nothing wrong with this. From personal experience I have never had my subway implode," quote retweeted @dunns_sarah.

Jeremiah Hassel