THE Sun has faced backlash on social media over its latest front page, which lead with pubs potentially being shut until Christmas.
“PUBS SHUT TILL XMAS” screams its front page headline – but, as social media users noticed when it was tweeted out, there is also the words “596 dead – see page 4” written over a cartoon graphic of a coronavirus protein.
The hashtags #dontbuythesun and #boycottthesun were trending on Twitter this morning.
The Guardian's deputy editor, Owen Gibson, described it as "a front page for future historians".
“596 dead, see p4”. There’s a front page for future historians. https://t.co/JJYUhmMoMH
— Owen Gibson (@owen_g) April 19, 2020
One Twitter user said the front page trivialises the UK's coronavirus death toll, pointing out that the graphic detailing the deaths is the same size as the "30p less than The Mirror" info box.
The Sun have really published a front page where the image detailing that 596 people have died is the same size as the sales promotion at the top ‘30p less than the mirror’. And this is the most read British paper. God help us.... #DontBuyTheSun pic.twitter.com/xgAIEE0pAC
— Will Kelsey (@WillKelsey5) April 20, 2020
Another pointed out that the "tone deaf" front page comes on the 31st anniversary of its controversial Hillsborough disaster coverage.
Jesus, after writing about The Sun's front page from 31 years ago today, just seen tomorrow's effort on TV. How tone deaf can you be? A starburst - a device to cross-reference to inside pages - shaped like virus with words '596 dead' on it. Positioned on a pic of a pint of beer
— Tony Evans (@TonyEvans92a) April 19, 2020
Others questioned the paper's priorities.
I had the strangest dream that I was the only person who could clearly see that Sun front page literally says "596 dead" in paragraph four on the front page?
— Martin Belam (@MartinBelam) April 20, 2020
Look how The Sun chooses to report the daily death toll on its front page. ‘Respect’, ffs. pic.twitter.com/Ul0lBtUgVr
— Mic Wright (@brokenbottleboy) April 19, 2020
Great to see the @TheSun has got it's priorities right on the front page. This paper really is good for nothing and if there is one thing we should be making sure, it is that this type of trash doesn't survive after the pandemic. #TheSun #boycottthesun pic.twitter.com/Ir9d38eMgr
— Sara Dunn #stayhomesavelives (@saradunn86) April 20, 2020
The Sun have really published a front page where the image detailing that 596 people have died is the same size as the sales promotion at the top ‘30p less than the mirror’. And this is the most read British paper. God help us.... #DontBuyTheSun pic.twitter.com/xgAIEE0pAC
— Will Kelsey (@WillKelsey5) April 20, 2020
Huge front page picture of a pint adorns the Sun, lamenting pubs possibly being shut until Christmas & inset, a tiny depiction of a virus with "596 dead see page 4" written on it. This is the lowest level of disdain & disregard for human lives lost - focusing instead on pubs 🧐 https://t.co/D9WWvdaM4f
— mike roberts-millar 🇪🇺 (@wisheart12) April 19, 2020
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