Yoko’s post ‘offensive’ advert using French flag to promote event

Yoko’s posted a bizarre advert last night featuring a French flag overlaid with “£1 Drinks” and a Martin Luther King quote to promote a night out.

The poster includes a picture of the Effiel Tower and information about the night, but has attracted strong criticism for its “insensitivity” and Word Art aesthetic – especially for superimposing “£1 Drinks” on the middle of the tricolour.

Many Facebook users expressed their disgust at what they perceived to be an obnoxious marketing strategy used to capitalise on the tragic events in Paris last week.

But the club said it “did not mean to cause offence to anyone” and have since removed the advert.

The “insensitive” advert has been removed

One user called the poster “in-a-fucking-ppropriate” and “insensitive and offensive”, while another post branded the business “scumbags.”

Jack Spittle offered a more measured comment: “I don’t think people people have taken issue with supporting an event – I think the problem was the use of a flag thats associated with a recent tragedy and slapping ‘£1 drinks’ in the middle.”

The advert included a quote from Martin Luther King

Yoko’s, formally known as Why Not, said the whole thing has been a misunderstanding and cited their recent support for a solidarity march.

They posted: “If you had bothered to take the time instead of applying judgemental attitudes you would already be aware that as a club we fully supported Parisian customers earlier in the evening attending a March to which a very large number of the group came back to why not as our guests.

“As a venue we attempt to do the right thing and offer support wherever we can and on this occasion some of you did not understand the real story behind the add.

“We supported the organiser of the March but our support and awareness had been completely overlooked.

“In future we will consider more carefully any events we support.”

But Ritchie Keightly, a third year Zoology student, wasn’t satisfied with Yoko’s reply: “Tragedy leads to opportunity, and a business that seems to care little for locals, students or it’s own staff are only a symptom of hypocrisy.”

Second year Economics student Cameron Singhclare, said the whole thing was misjudged :”As I attended Thursday night’s Paris Solidarity march, I understood the reference the establishment was making to the generous free hospitality services they offered to attendees afterwards.

“However, given the context of people jumping on bandwagons I understand why many people may have suspected Why Not had other more tasteless motivations for framing this advert in such a way.”