Small and big businesses alike took part in the Valentine's Day celebration, surely in an effort to stay relevant and to experience a little bit of joy on the big day.
But some businesses were more successful than others. Like, some got some "Likes" or even sold a few products. Others, like the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), were blamed for coups.
Trying to be cute for the holiday, the agency shared a coded message, asking their followers if they could decipher it.
Can you decipher this code? #Trivia #Game https://t.co/UkIu2jMQoJ— CIA (@CIA)1613149606.0
Later, they shared a little "Roses are Red" rendition poem.
Which was the answer to their cipher.
https://t.co/8ZsCfBFBUB— CIA (@CIA) 1613317424.0
A few people thought it was pretty cute.
Thank you CIA this is too cute https://t.co/ioAFkQe5zl— Paul F. Tompkins (@Paul F. Tompkins) 1613321772.0
A few others were (jokingly) suspicious of what was coming next.
The CIA just wished me a happy Valentine's Day and I'm pretty sure that means I'm about to be kidnapped.— Steve Hofstetter (@Steve Hofstetter) 1613340610.0
@CIA this sounds like I should check under my car this morning before I start it— 🌹 Socialism in One Bunker ⛳ (@🌹 Socialism in One Bunker ⛳) 1613326643.0
@CIA This is one of the scariest tweets of all time— Preguiça Astronauta (@Preguiça Astronauta) 1613317788.0
But most people took the opportunity to write their own "Roses are Red" poems for the CIA.
@CIA Roses are red Violets are blue Keep your camera covered Because we’re watching you— Asaad Hanna (@Asaad Hanna) 1613348541.0
@CIA https://t.co/wxaLH8LBpF— Matthew 🐯 (@Matthew 🐯) 1613317640.0
@CIA Roses are red Violets are blue The CIA rigs elections And kills for them too— Guy Faux (@Guy Faux) 1613326417.0
And some of these poems were downright brutal.
@CIA Roses are red, Violets are blue Like today's GOP, You've supported some coups. https://t.co/FNB6nOBYog— Dean Gloster (@Dean Gloster) 1613331333.0
@CIA Roses are red Violets are blue These are the governments that the CIA overthrew: Syria 1949 Iran 1953 Guatema… https://t.co/UHu6RdOXBI— The God (@The God) 1613343981.0
@CIA Roses are red Violets are blue Pose a threat to capitalism And we'll stage a coup https://t.co/9km1AwoHIy— dankbob_memepants_🚩🧱 (@dankbob_memepants_🚩🧱) 1613319110.0
The CIA may "know" a lot of things, but they surely never saw this one coming.
Their efforts to be all cute and cuddly this Valentine's Day weekend backfired.
@PFTompkins Roses are red Violets are blue We’re the CIA And we’re launching a coup— Agent Jack Bauer, the Junkyard Cat (@Agent Jack Bauer, the Junkyard Cat) 1613322163.0
It looks like they weren't the popular kid in class this year.
It seems like a pretty safe bet that they won't be getting a Valentine in return this year, either.
@bobotron @PFTompkins That's fantastic, I hope lots of people get it! #CIAnotSIA— Junior Sanchez Jr (@Junior Sanchez Jr) 1613334643.0
There's really no telling what brought this on.
Maybe their marketing team thought it would be fun or a way to gain followers or rebrand their image or recruit new agents?
Maybe they were aiming for a little levity with the aftershocks of 2020.
@PFTompkins Director: Boys, the CIA needs to work on its social media presence. Give me ideas! Gman *shyly*: Well… https://t.co/IQNNHVDKOH— You're only in trouble if you get caught (@You're only in trouble if you get caught) 1613328572.0
Whatever their reasoning, Twitter wasn't feeling it.
They accepted it about as well as the classroom kids used to accept the Valentine's Day cards from their fellow classmates who didn't pair it with candy, or who bought the cheap stuff (in case you missed out on this classroom tradition these kids weren't too happy when that happened).
Maybe if the CIA made this an annual tradition, it might be better-received. Some people might even begin to look forward to it.
But with their track record... they would have to supply their followers with the best Valentine's cards and best candy before they could get past all of these burns and start winning them over.