The Hoxton hotel located in Shoreditch. Pic: Jamie Whelan.
The hotel chain Hoxton Hotels has been condemned for using the hashtag “JesuisCharlie” to promote their new premises opening in Paris.
Both of the London Hoxton hotels have received heavy criticism after the Shoreditch hotel posted: “Proud to be opening our second European hotel in Paris 2016. Very chic don’t you think? #jesuischarlie”. The tweet was accompanied by pictures of the company’s latest project.
Shortly after, the post was retweeted and accompanied by furious and sarcastic comments.
The Independent tweeted: “Hoxton hotel takes crown for most inadvisable use of #JeSuisCharlie hashtag”
James Read, editor of Student Beans took a screenshot of the hotel’s tweet and added his own comments.
Co-opting #JeSuisCharlie to promote your new hotel opening? Ballsy move by The Hoxton’s social media manager! pic.twitter.com/F7XRkquEyo
— James Read (@cowabungabunga) January 12, 2015
Shoreditch’s Hoxton brand director, Timothy Griffin, said yesterday: “In no way was it our intention to use these atrocities to promote our new hotel. This would not only be completely insensitive but unacceptable in our eyes.”
“In hindsight, it was extremely poor judgement and clearly not intended to be perceived in the way it has”.
The chain has defended itself by saying their only intention was to show solidarity for the victims. Hoxton Hotels have since deleted the tweet and apologised for “any offence caused”.
