Cinnabon Gets Overzealous in Its Twitter Grief for Carrie Fisher The bakery brand and General Mills both fell in the same trap this year.

By Nina Zipkin

Ethan Miller | Getty Images
Actress Carrie Fisher

It's a cycle that has unfortunately become quite familiar over the last year with the loss of so many pop culture icons.

A beloved, iconoclastic celebrity dies and we proceed to express our sadness and disbelief, particularly on social media. And in a rush to get in on the conversation, brands forget the most important rule of grieving in public: it's not about you.

Related: 12 Worst Social-Media Fails in 2016 So Far

Carrie Fisher's death this week spurred remembrances of her prodigious writing talent, mental health advocacy and lacerating perspective about women in Hollywood. So Cinnabon decided to post a swiftly deleted tweet about how she had "the best buns in the galaxy."

You're better than that, Cinnabon.

Related: Carrie Fisher's Most Hilarious and Inspiring Quotes

The company did apologize, and Fisher probably would have thought it was hilarious. But Cinnabon isn't the only one that fell into that trap. When Prince died this spring, many a tribute included purple in honor of the singer's signature color. But Cheerios took it a step too far, replacing the dot of the i in its "Rest in Peace" message with, you guessed it, a Cheerio.

So while it's important to be relevant to your audience, what we learn from these mistakes is that the first step of social media success is being able to read a room.

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business News

What's Open on Easter Sunday? Costco and Target Will Close, But One Major Retailer Will Be Open. Here's What To Know.

The stock market was closed for Good Friday on April 18. Here's what's closed for Easter Sunday, April 20.

Living

The 3 Lifestyle Habits That Made Me Sharper, Stronger and More Successful

These three simple yet powerful lifestyle changes transformed my productivity, energy and mindset. Here's how you can do the same.

Side Hustle

This Couple Started a Side Hustle to Improve a 'Terribly Made' Bathroom Essential. Now the Business Earns More Than $3 Million a Year.

Michael Fine and Lisa Schulner-Fine launched lifestyle brand Quiet Town in 2016 and have been growing it ever since.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business Solutions

You and Your Kids Can Develop Future-Proof Tech Skills for Only $56

Develop future-proof tech skills even if you have no previous tech experience, such as data storytelling, Python, ChatGTP, Internet of Things and more.

Leadership

Lead From the Top: 5 Core Responsibilities of a CEO

Knowing exactly what the chief executive's role entails is critical for steering a company to success.