Entertainment journalist and founder of Deadline.com Nikki Finke was the subject of swift online backlash due to a tweet she sent following the news of Nelson Mandela's death Thursday.
In the tweet, Finke refers to the recently released biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, starring actor Idris Elba as the former president of South Africa. Her comment was quickly repudiated as insensitive and off-topic, as it attempts to honor Mandela's memory with news on the movie's buzz.
R.I.P. Nelson Mandela, subject of Weinstein Co’s Idris Elba-starrer 'Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom' which opened Nov 29 and has awards buzz.
— Nikki Finke (@NikkiFinke) December 5, 2013
See also: 11 Inspiring Moments to Remember Nelson Mandela
The Twittersphere responded in typical fashion — with a satirical hashtag #FinkeObits, parodying Finke's original tweet by marking the deaths of other famous figures in the context of their film legacies. The hashtag has been attributed to blogger Beth Schacter (@bethshax) and we've compiled 22 of the wittiest tweets below.
RIP God, star of Ten Commandments and A Charlie Brown Christmas, many other TV/films, a real trouper. #finkeobits #nietzsche
RIP JFK. Whose untimely assassination was the basis of the film JFK,American political thriller film grossing over $205 million .#FinkeObits
R.I.P. Ellie Fredricksen, your sad passing would see Carl go on a huge adventure to Paradise Falls in Pixar's classic "UP". #FinkeObits
R.I.P. Ronald Reagan, your support of a murderous dictatorship would see James Woods best performance in Oliver Stones Salvador .#FinkeObits
Jesus of Nazareth, socialist leader who inspired Mel Gibson's slasher film "The Passion Of The Christ" died this morning age 83. #FinkeObits
RIP Freddy Krueger. Concern that his passing will definitively spell the end of Friday 13th franchise likely premature. #FinkeObits
#FinkeObits Ian Watkins is an inexplicably evil and vile predator. 'A Serbian Film' is out now on Blu-Ray and DVD.
RIP Gandhi, a true inspiration leading to 11 Oscar nominations and box office takings of over $52m in the 1980's #FinkeObits
RIP Kim Jong-il whose iron-fisted rule of North Korea made Team America: World Police, eminently more watchable #FinkeObits
RIP Anne Frank, whose diary inspired several plays and films, and is soon to be a live NBC TV musical starring Lindsay Lohan #FinkeObits
RIP Princess Diana, whose death paved the way for Helen Mirren's Oscar but also inspired a mediocre Naomi Watts vehicle. #FinkeObits
RIP Oskar Schindler who saved 1000 lives in WWII inspiring a book & film. Buy Schindler's List now & get free PDF of Mein Kampf #FinkeObits
RIP Frida Kahlo, whose biopic starring Salma Hayek was controversially overlooked for Best Picture at the 2003 Academy Awards. #FinkeObits
RIP Paul Walker, who's crazy driving antics can be relived in The Fast and the Furious mega boxset for only £29.99 (Amazon) #FinkeObits
RIP John Lennon and George Harrison, who figure prominently in the much-praised documentary GOOD OL' FREDA, just out on DVD #FinkeObits
RIP BARNEY, loveable pink dinosaur and role mentor for Velociraptor Number 2’s stand out performance in Jurassic Park III #FinkeObits
#RIP Queen Victoria, one of Hollywood’s most popular Queens, played by Emily Blunt and Dame Judi Dench, amongst others. #FinkeObits
RIP Adolf Hitler, who really made The Weinstein Company's Oscar-nominated INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS possible. #FinkeObits
RIP Neil Armstrong, whose journey to the Moon would one day make the backstory of TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON possible #FinkeObits
R.I.P. Thai flood victims who'll miss Regency's pricey Aronofsky-directed Russell Crowe-starrer 'Noah' which opens March 8 #FinkeObits
RIP Osama Bin Laden, antagonist of the films UNITED 93 and WORLD TRADE CENTER, neither of which won Best Picture. #FinkeObits
RIP Abraham Lincoln, who fought both vampires and racism at the box office. #FinkeObits
Finke later defended the tweet, but her response hasn't seemed to stem the barrage of 140-character takedowns.
I write about the entertainment biz. And that movie is a wonderful tribute to Nelson Mandela since it's based on his autobiography.
— Nikki Finke (@NikkiFinke) December 5, 2013
Image: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images