Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti had what he thought would be a Big Idea to dissuade citizens from setting off fireworks for the Fourth of July, but it backfired in one heck of a major way.
Here was Garcetti’s Big Idea:
#Fireworks are illegal in the City of Los Angeles and even small ones can cause a lot of damage.
This watermelon was completely destroyed by a firework the size of a stick of gum.
This #FourthOfJuly be safe, find a professional show near you: https://t.co/gow9utbD5K pic.twitter.com/KHqrJZDVba
— Mayor Eric Garcetti (@MayorOfLA) July 2, 2018
Oops:
Mr. Mayor, thanks for showing how dope it would be to blow up a watermelon! https://t.co/HFhbBLLD0f
— (((Mike Glenn))) (@mrglenn) July 3, 2018
In his next safety video, Mayor Garcetti will demonstrate the danger of supplying free beer to all the kids at the skate parkhttps://t.co/r56amK2U3w
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 3, 2018
This AWESOME EXPLODING WATERMELON VIDEO may not be the most effective way to get people not to use illegal fireworks. https://t.co/WvdeJ9LYtg
— Mike Madden (@MikeMadden) July 3, 2018
Under no circumstances should you allow a watermelon to play with fireworks https://t.co/LqJ5OI8ocq
— Jason (@longwall26) July 3, 2018
Wow, it never occurred to me to try this. Incorporated into the show! https://t.co/vy4lt2Ynfn
— Sean T at RCP (@SeanTrende) July 3, 2018
You idiot, you just made fireworks seem even cooler than they already are. https://t.co/mgZHV5lx8Q
— Jeff B. (@EsotericCD) July 3, 2018
Friendly advice: if you want to convince Americans not to use fireworks over the 4th of July, don’t use an awesome video of fireworks blowing up a watermelon to make your point. https://t.co/hAF520JMco
— James Hasson (@JamesHasson20) July 3, 2018
From a social media and communications perspective, I’m not sure this tweet will have the effect it was intended to have. https://t.co/WyfmdDWu0X
— Omri Ceren (@omriceren) July 3, 2018
Looks like I better go buy some watermelons https://t.co/SSeNZXFqcz
— Natalie Foley (@Foley_OC) July 3, 2018
When a warning unexpectedly becomes an advertisement. https://t.co/ElRlB5h2XU
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) July 3, 2018