The Royal Dutch Airlines has become somewhat of an internet laughingstock after an innocent-enough attempt at an advertisement in honor of Amsterdam's Pride celebration. The ad, which featured a series of rainbow-colored seat belts arranged to represent various relationships, said "It doesn't matter who you click with. Happy #PrideAmsterdam."
It doesn't matter who you click with. Happy #PrideAmsterdam ?????? pic.twitter.com/ZTBHvCx1Pp
— Royal Dutch Airlines (@KLM) August 5, 2017
Opinions on gay marriage or same-sex relationships aside, that's...just not how seat belts work. A seat belt has to have the two different parts of the buckle in order to actually function as its intended purpose. A seat belt with two "male" ends or two "female" ends is useless and won't do its job.
Many were quick to see the irony of the well-meaning advertisement:
I think what @KLM is saying is this: You can use any combination you want. But only one is actually going to work. https://t.co/ONkN1v0AtM
— Jim Treacher (@jtLOL) August 8, 2017
Only one of those combinations will save your life...
— Erielle Davidson (@politicalelle) August 7, 2017
Um if you use the top two seatbelts and the plane has turbulence, you could die. https://t.co/qu4FMpRtjh
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 7, 2017
Uh, guys. This gives the opposite message from what you were going for
— Just a Fox (@kisroka_inks) August 7, 2017
Of course, this could also lead to a conversation about the growing corporatization of Pride-related activities, which is something that has irked LGBT activists as well. Why must seemingly every company issue some sort of virtue-signaling avert?