On September 11th, 2020, DraftKings, a daily fantasy sports platform, announced a special 9/11 parlay bet. The bet was meant to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and the proceeds were to be donated to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. However, the timing of the bet was met with criticism from many, including Steve Friess, a journalist and former contributor to The New York Times.
Friess argued that the timing of the bet was inappropriate, as it could be seen as trivializing a tragedy that affected so many people. He also noted that DraftKings had not consulted with the families of 9/11 victims or any other stakeholders before announcing the bet. Friess further argued that the bet was not an appropriate way to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11, and that it could be seen as disrespectful to those affected by the attacks.
In response to the criticism, DraftKings issued an apology and withdrew the bet. They stated that they had not intended to disrespect anyone, and that their intention had been to honor those who lost their lives on 9/11. They also clarified that all proceeds from the bet were to be donated to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of considering how our actions may be perceived by others. It is important to take into account the feelings of those affected by a tragedy before taking any action that could be seen as disrespectful or insensitive. In this case, DraftKings’ apology and withdrawal of the bet was an appropriate response to the criticism they received.