Welp, it looks like someone on Xbox’s marketing team is getting sacked.
A seemingly harmless promotional email for the new Dead Rising, has turned into a racial gaffe for Microsoft, due to an unfortunately spelled zombie noise.
The top of the email says “NNNGGGHHHHAAAA,” as in “NNNGGGHHHHAAAA, I’ll eat your brains” and not as in “******, I’m super racist.” But unfortunately many sounded out the word with a hard “G” instead of a soft one, leading to pandemonium.
@XboxSupport Don't appreciate getting a racist email from Xbox.
— Larry Smolinski (@xxHouse82xx) November 21, 2016
Well, not that much outrage, but it got Larry Hyb, director of programming for Xbox Live, to draft an official apology.
Today we sent a DR4 email where a zombie roar was interpreted by many as a racial slur. We apologize and promise to do better next time.
— / Larry Hryb / + 1m (@majornelson) November 22, 2016
This whole controversy shows the importance of reading fake words out loud before publishing in print. I’m still getting letters from concerned parents concerned over the name of the capital city, Smoakmethkids, in my latest YA fantasy novel.
