Snapchat pulls its Juneteenth filter that prompted users to smile to break chains

Snapchat’s controversial Juneteenth filter that allowed users to “smile and break the chains” appears to have been removed from the app. The filter was panned by critics on Friday morning shortly after its release for its tone deafness, and CNBC reports that it’s been disabled. Snap has yet to comment or confirm the status of the filter.

Atlanta-based digital strategist Mark S. Luckie demonstrated the filter on Twitter, calling it “interesting.” The filter showed what appeared to be an approximation of the Pan-African flag, and prompted the user to smile — a common trigger for animated Snapchat filters — causing chains to appear and then break behind the user.

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