(Courtesy of Nicholas)
BOSTON (AP) - Turner Broadcasting System apologized to Boston-area residents on Friday for a security scare that had bomb squads checking out electronic signs that were part of a nationwide marketing campaign for its subsidiary Cartoon Network.
Phil Kent, Turner's chairman and CEO, made the apology in full-page ads in Boston newspapers for "the confusion and inconvenience" caused as highways, bridges and river traffic were shut down in several areas while police checked out the signs, some of which had protruding wires.
"We never intended this outcome and certainly did not set out to perpetrate a hoax. What we did is inadvertently cause a great American city to deal with the unintended impact of this marketing campaign. For this, we are deeply sorry," Kent said.
"Our focus today and in the days ahead is on demonstrating to you the sincerity of our desire to do what is right. What happened in Boston is a humbling reminder that reputation is something we earn every day. We are working to regain your respect," the letter said.
(AP) The office door of marketing firm Interference Inc. is shown Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007 in New York....
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Turner spokeswoman Shirley Powell said the company is in discussions with Boston city officials on how to best make amends.
Mayor Thomas Menino has estimated the costs in Boston alone would be more than $500,000. Costs incurred by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, state police and the cities of Cambridge and Somerville could amount to another $500,000, officials said.
The blinking electronic signs were placed in nine other cities across the country, displaying a profane, boxy-looking cartoon character. They caused barely a stir.
But in Boston, the signs sent a wave of panic across the city where hijackers launched the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Boston officials angrily vowed to hold Turner responsible.
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Even better check out the performative-absurd response of the two men who set up the signs around Boston and were arrested in the aftermath:
Press Conference: Haircuts in the 70s
3 comments:
I think I'm missing something on this story, because I don't see really what the big hullabaloo is? There were some neon figures set out in various US cities - why did Boston feel these were bombs?
As for the press conference, if their lawyer advised them not to say anything then there shouldn't have been a press conference. They should have just said they were advised not to make comments, thank you, goodbye. The hair routine was just stupid.
Susannity,
I think they are performance artists and they were doing an imprmptu absurd mocking of the media forum?
Sorry, I totally understood the press conference and the two idiots' mockery. What I didn't understand was why it was such a big deal in Boston in the first place, versus all the other cities these neon figures were placed. Why did Boston think these neon figures were bombs?
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