18 Jul, 2018 11:10

‘Trigger happy killers’: US Army gets furious response after it tries to celebrate Emoji Day

Someone in the US Army thought celebrating World Emoji Day by posting a picture of troops with emojis in place of their faces was a good idea. What they received in return was not exactly smiley faces.

Happy #WorldEmojiDay from the #USArmy. pic.twitter.com/Qx5gOFxm4u
— U.S. Army (@USArmy) July 17, 2018

The picture posted by the US Army seemed odd, partly because the emoji they chose looks like a grimacing face. People apparently found it to be an inappropriate trivialization of the horrors of war.

This is a smidge funny but more on disturbing. Couldn't you have edited a photo where the troops are making a salute? Or helping people? You had to choose one where they are holding guns? You just made yourselves look like sociopathic, trigger-happy killers.
— Red™ #BeAMisha 💞| 3🎂 | (@red_seventh) July 17, 2018

War is not cute. Reducing troops to grinning emojis reduces their sacrifice and suffering. Disgusting.
— J-Rod (@howjrodseesit) July 17, 2018

However, some liked the idea. Or at least expressed their support for the troops.

Others used their image editing skills to “fix” the collage or “emojify” some of the worst photos involving American troops, like those taken by Abu Ghraib guards when they tortured and humiliated prisoners.