amazon driver SOUTHEND-ON-SEA, ENGLAND - JUNE 25: An Amazon delivery person wearing a face mask delivers a parcel along the promenade on June 25, 2020 in Southend-on-Sea, England. The UK is experiencing a summer heatwave, with temperatures in many parts of the country expected to rise above 30C and weather warnings in place for thunderstorms at the end of the week. (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images)
An Amazon delivery driver.
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  • Amazon apologized on Saturday after its social media support team insisted that Northern Ireland wasn’t part of the UK.
  • It followed a complaint made by a customer living in Northern Ireland who said he couldn’t watch live rugby on Amazon Prime.
  • Amazon’s official support Twitter account responded that he couldn’t watch because “Rugby Autumn Nations Cup coverage is exclusively available to Prime members based in the UK.” 
  • Hours later, the Amazon Help account tweeted: “We apologise for the error in our colleague’s response.”
  • The mistake caught the attention of comedians, journalists, and others across Ireland, the UK, and the US. One asked if Amazon could give Scotland independence from the UK.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Amazon apologized Saturday after its official support Twitter account repeatedly insisted, incorrectly, that Northern Ireland wasn’t part of the UK.

The tech giant’s apology came four hours after a customer, who recently moved from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland, complained that he couldn’t watch live rugby on Amazon Prime.

In response to the complaint, Amazon Help said: “We apologize but upon reviewing your location you’re in Northern Ireland. Rugby Autumn Nations Cup coverage is exclusively available to Prime members based in the UK. We don’t have the rights to other territories.”

Even when Twitter users highlighted the geographical mistake, Amazon Help continued to insist that the company doesn’t have rights to Northern Ireland because it’s outside the UK.

Four hours later, the account apologized, and said that Amazon Prime subscribers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK can watch the Rugby Autumn Nations Cup.

"We apologise for the error in our colleague's response. Our Prime Video subscribers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK can access and watch the Rugby Autumn Nations Cup on Prime Video as part of their subscription."

The blunder became the centre of attention on the social media platform. 

Journalists, comedians and other people from Ireland, the UK, and the US responded to Amazon's tweet, joking about the company reunifing Ireland.

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Amazon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The Amazon Help account joined in the jokes the following day when asked by a Twitter user if Scotland could have independence.

 

Read the original article on Business Insider