ABC 7's "P.F. Chang 2018" Mix-up
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Overview
ABC 7's "P.F. Chang" 2018 Mix-up refers to a mistakenly used graphic used on an ABC news affiliate. The graphic was supposed to read Pyeongchang, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics but instead read "P.F. Chang's," referring to the chain-Chinese food restaurant.
Background
Of February 10th, 2018, WLS-Ch.7 news, an ABC affiliate in Chicago, accidentally broadcasted a graphic that read the name of Chinese food chain restaurant "P.F. Chang's" instead of the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics Pyeongchang (shown below).[1]
Development
Online Reaction
Shortly after the broadcast aired, people began making jokes about the gaffe. That day, Twitter[10] user @thekapman tweeted a screenshot of the broadcast with the caption "No way this was on TV this morning! How does this happen?" The post (shown below, left) received more than 2,100 retweets and 5,000 likes in three days.
Twitter[5] user @PatMcAfeeShow tweeted the shot of the broadcast with the caption "P.F. Chang’s.. Bringing the world together in 2018." The tweet (shown below, center) received more than 2,300 retweets and 13,000 likes.
Twitter[6] user @DVNJr tweeted a screenshot of the article in the Chicago Tribune with the caption "Hey, this mistake could happen to… PRACTICALLY NO ONE." The tweet (shown below, right) received more than 350 retweets and 690 likes in one day.
Apology
Two days later, on February 12th, a station representative Jayme Nicholas apologized for the mix up and explained that the P.F. Chang's graphic was to be used for a "satirical piece" in which the sports anchor asked viewers to invent their own olympic sports. However, it was accidentally used for anchor Mark Rivera's broadcast the following day.[2]
P.F. Chang's Response
On February 11th, Twitter [3] user @WawlFinebaum tweeted a picture of the broadcast with the caption "I see you @PFChangs." The tweet (shown below, left) received more than 40 retweets and 115 likes in three days.
Later that day, the official Twitter[4] of P.F. Chang's tweeted, "Contrary to this broadcast, we’re not hosting the games. 🙂." The post (shown below, right) received more than 1,300 retweets and 4,800 likes in two days.
Media Coverage
Several media outlets published articles about the mistake, including BuzzFeed, [7] The Root,[8] Vanity Fair, Thrillist[9] and more.
Search Interest
External References
[1] Chicago Tribune – WLS-Ch.7 blames graphics 'mix-up' for confusion between P.F. Chang's and Pyeongchang
[2] Vanity Fair – In Tastiest Olympic Gaffe Yet, News Station Confuses Pyeongchang with P.F. Chang’s
[3] Twitter – @WawlFinebaum's Tweet
[4] Twitter – @PFChangs' Tweet
[5] Twitter – @PatMcAfeeShow's Tweet
[6] Twitter – @DVNJr's Tweet
[7] BuzzFeed – This TV Station Accidentally Said The Olympics Were At P.F. Chang's And Now Everyone Wants Lettuce Wraps
[8] The Root – There’s a Reason Why a TV Station Mixed Up P.F. Chang’s for Pyeongchang--and It’s Predictably Trash
[9] Thrillist – LOCAL NEWS CONFUSES PYEONGCHANG 2018 WITH ‘P.F. CHANG 2018,’ ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE
[10] Twitter – @thekapman's Tweet
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Top Comments
Nedhitis
Feb 14, 2018 at 12:21PM EST
SonicLover
Feb 14, 2018 at 12:10PM EST