Here’s a hot tip: if you’re designing a theme park ride, try not to let it resemble a Nazi emblem.
A theme park ride called the ‘Eagle Fly’ in Germany has been shut down after people complained about it looking like a pair of terrifying spinning swastikas.
A spokesperson for Tatzmania theme park, which is located near Loffingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, told The Independent the ride was no longer operating, despite opening just one month ago.
Tatzmania Director Rudiger Braun said no one noticed any issues with the ride until earlier this month when fans pointed out the likeness in online videos.
Braun told SWR he wanted to “apologise to anyone who feels disturbed or offended by our design.”
In Germany, it is illegal to “use of symbols of unconstitutional organisations,” like a swastika, outside the context of “art or science, research or teaching.” According to the law, displaying Nazi emblems could be punished with “imprisonment for not more than three years or a fine.”
Sadly, Tatzmania’s swastika theme park ride isn’t the only time an organisation has landed in hot water for unknowingly displaying a Nazi symbol. In 2006, fashion brand Esprit were forced to recall 200,000 catalogues after consumers complained they contained photos of buttons with a design that resembled a swastika.
A year later, fast fashion giant Zara withdrew a $115 handbag that was embroidered with four green swastikas. When customers complained, the company said the bag had come from an Indian supplier and the approved design didn’t feature the symbols.
In 2014, Hallmark caused a social media uproar for selling patterned gift wrap that appeared to contain swastikas. The greeting card brand apologised and pulled the product from their stores, but to make matters even worse, the gift wrap had reportedly been grouped with Hanukkah products because of the colour theme of that particular Jewish holiday.
Eek. Hopefully this is a lesson learned for all involved.