⚠️ Outrage Over Aberfan Meme Posted by Tory Councillor ⚠️
Tom Jones, a Conservative councillor from North Yorkshire, faced a wave of criticism after sharing an insulting meme related to the tragic Aberfan disaster. The post used an image depicting the aftermath of the 1966 disaster, where a coal spoil tip collapsed, tragically claiming the lives of 116 children and 28 adults. The meme bore the caption “an avalanche of coal” and appeared as a retort to a comment on social media.
The term “coal” is sometimes used online to describe content perceived as low-quality, but many felt this use was deeply offensive, given the disaster’s devastating impact. People didn’t hold back, labelling Jones as “insensitive” and questioning his judgment. “Are you out of your mind using that image to score political points?” one user blasted.
After receiving extensive backlash and accumulating more than 240,000 views, Jones removed the post and issued an apology: “Completely unreserved apologies to anyone I offended with the earlier photo I posted – I simply googled coal meme and that one came up.”
Jones describes himself online as a “terminally online opinion haver,” but this time, his opinion didn’t sit well with many. The Aberfan disaster remains a sensitive topic, especially for those in Wales, where its impact is still felt today.
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