The company’s press office wanted to boast about its stock market results on social media. However, the “success” of the diminished energy giant was overshadowed by a PR fiasco. Not only did they use a popular meme, but they also covered the image of John Paul II with… the image of “Agent Bolek.”
Trying to appear witty, the press office of the energy giant decided to announce its success in a humorous way. That was the idea. The outcome, however, was embarrassing.
“We may have once again broken our all-time stock market records, but please stop sending it to us already”, wrote Orlen’s communications team.
They illustrated the post with a popular meme in which Saint John Paul II was covered up. In his place appeared Lech Wałęsa. Internet users reacted immediately, first pointing out that “no one was sending them anything.” In response, they also received the popular comeback: “But it’s you who are calling.”
Neither replacing the Polish pope with “Agent Bolek,” nor the high fuel prices at stations convinced social media users that the company had achieved success, as reflected in numerous comments. Most expressed distaste for this kind of communication.