Cinnabon Carrie Fisher Twitter Controversy: Tasteless Tweet By Cinnamon Roll Company Bakes Up Storm

Mall sticky bun chain Cinnabon baked up a galactic-size controversy Tuesday, tweeting, “RIP Carrie Fisher, you’ll always have the best buns in the galaxy.”

Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” franchise, died Tuesday following a massive heart attack five days ago that left her unresponsive for 10 minutes. She was 60.

Cinnabon removed the tweet, which was a revision of one it sent May 4, with the hashtag #MayThe4thBeWithYou, saying Fisher had “the second-best rolls in the galaxy.” The tweet remains on the company’s Facebook page, however.

Tuesday’s tweet sparked outrage in the Twitterverse.

Julie Alexandria wrote: “Tacky. Get over yourself and stop capitalizing on the tragic loss of an icon.”

A tweet by Paul Henning read: “Never, never use a death to promote your brand. Poor taste.”

Fisher was best-known for her role as Princess Leia and also starred in the “Blues Brothers” as John Belushi’s psycho ex-girlfriend. She went on to become an author and screenwriter, and was described as an icon and inspiration by admirers.

Fisher was on a flight from London to Los Angeles when she suffered a heart attack last Friday and was rushed to UCLA Medical Center upon landing.

Fisher was the daughter of Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

As of July 2009, Cinnabon, headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and owned by Focus Brands, had 750 locations operating in more than 30 countries.

The company opened its first location at SeaTac Mall in Seattle, an offshoot of the Seattle Based Restaurants Unlimited chain, Dec. 4, 1985, and began franchising the following August. It opened its first store outside a mall at Detroit Metropolitan Airport in 1991. Stores now can also be found on military bases, at universities, rapid transit stations, casinos and amusement parks, and at locations in 25 other countries.