A communications director for a large digital holding company will probably be out of a job when her flight lands in Africa. Of course, her excuse will be that her Twitter account was hacked.
Update: Justine Sacco finally landed in Johannesburg, and deleted her Twitter account.
If Justine Sacco is on a flight to Africa right now, I don’t envy her the notifications that will be waiting for her when she lands.
Sacco, senior director of corporate communications at the massive digital holding company IAC, apparently tweeted the following earlier today: “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!”
The tweet has since attracted scorn and disbelief from Silicon Valley and far beyond. IAC is no small player in the digital realm. The company owns many popular websites, including About.com, Match.com, Vimeo, CollegeHumor, OkCupid and Urbanspoon.
A rep for IAC tells Valleywag: “This is an outrageous, offensive comment that does not reflect the views and values of IAC. Unfortunately, the employee in question is unreachable on an international flight, but this is a very serious matter and we are taking appropriate action.” Original item below:
If Justine Sacco is on a flight to Africa right now, I don’t envy her the notifications that will be waiting for her when she lands.
Thanks to loyal reader E. Ortiz for the tip.
Update: Some backlash on Twitter.
I actually feel bad for @justinesacco she's going to be under massive assault once she lands. What the hell was she thinking?
— David Armano (@armano) December 20, 2013
If only @LOLJustineSacco had Whoopi Goldberg on flight, bc I'm pretty sure this would occur: #HasJustineLandedYet pic.twitter.com/1ZNIziJyct
— John Jdol (@JohnJdol) December 21, 2013
@GoodGirlRoxy @ReignOfApril LOL. Happy Holidays and oh, you're fired. @JustineSacco
— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) December 20, 2013
Hi @JustineSacco you're probably dealing with big picture stuff right now but I thought you should know Africa is not a country.
— Christiana Mbakwe (@Christiana1987) December 20, 2013
@JustineSacco And by the time you land you're going to be unemployed. Hilarious!
— Oliver Rivers (@maxrothbarth) December 20, 2013
@sfpelosi @JustineSacco This is stuff she's comfortable joking about in public. WTF does she say around her clique?!
— Rashona (@Rashona) December 20, 2013
@ReignOfApril @JanvierNoir @justinesacco You will need to hire a Black lawyer as soon as you land. #blacktwitter
— Kwame Thompson (@KwameThompson) December 20, 2013
"Hop up out dis plaaaane…turn my phone onnnn…Look at my mentions say wassup…..HEEEEEY I'M LOSIN MONAAAY…" –@JustineSacco
— Phonte (@phontigallo) December 20, 2013
Someone registered http://t.co/7urbUo449y and pointed it to an AIDS charity. Oh, Internet — you complete me. #HasJustineLandedYet
— Imani ABL (@AngryBlackLady) December 21, 2013
So I guess @JustineSacco landed?
— Naheed Mustafa (@NaheedMustafa) December 21, 2013
Oh my god INTERNETS RT @Zac_RYup. @JustineSacco HAS in fact landed. She's decided to wear sunnies as a disguise. pic.twitter.com/hbPkeMwNtB
— Michonne. (@ErickaSimone) December 21, 2013
