Walmart is under fire for using packages of soda cans as a tribute to 9-11 ahead of the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the US.
A Florida Walmart arranged the packages to look like the twin towers, according to a photo tweeted by shopper Shawn Richard on Monday.
"We stopped and stared at it like, oh my god," Richard told BuzzFeed News, which first reported on the display. "Nobody seemed to be noticing it, it wasn't very crowded, and I got the feeling that it had just been assembled. So we took some pics and went on our way."
Florida c'mon man pic.twitter.com/HU4y2rxgFG
A printed sign hung above the display advertising Walmart's rollback prices for the soft drinks. Another sign hanging above the display read "We will never forget" with a photo of the twin towers and the logos for Walmart and Coca-Cola.
All of the sodas that were part of the display were Coca-Cola products. Walmart told Business Insider that the display was removed Wednesday afternoon. Coca-Cola did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The display was criticized on Twitter as insensitive and exploitive.
@online_shawn @Walmart Walmart, this is disgusting and unacceptable. I will not be shopping in your stores again.
- Eric Kabakoff (@erickabakoff) September 6, 2016@online_shawn @JMoneyMC this is one of the lamest things I've ever seen
- Nitro Rad (@NitroRad) September 6, 2016@online_shawn @tovangar2 sick. And not in a good way.
- Mrrwraoh (@mrrwraoh) September 7, 2016@online_shawn Is that real?! Dear God, tell me that isn't real.
- Vagenda of Manocide (@librarianatrix) September 7, 2016@online_shawn @geeoharee Oh man, they have GOT to be kidding.
- Truly S. (@hotincleveland) September 7, 2016@online_shawn @Walmart This is ridiculous!! Take it down.
- trena nauta (@trena_nauta) September 7, 2016@online_shawn Please tell me this is fake. Just tell me it's fake even if it's not so I can sleep well tonight "knowing" this isn't real.
- Andrew Cannizzaro (@ajc340) September 6, 2016