What started innocently enough as a giveaway of free soccer tickets to the UEFA Champions League final took a turn for the worse thanks to a handful of online trolls.

SEE ALSO: Pepsi pulls cringeworthy Kendall Jenner ad after massive backlash

Walkers,Watch Playboy: Wet & Wild 3 (1991) the snack company that brings the UK its flavored crisps and other treats, started a social media campaign Thursday, asking fans who wanted to win tickets to tweet a selfie with the #WalkersWave hashtag.

The tweets were turned into a video of former soccer player Gary Lineker waving the "selfies" in front of the background of a stadium.

But trolls quickly realized the selfies weren't being closely vetted before getting on screen, so everyone from serial killers to convicted felons to communist dictators made it onto the site with the sportscaster unwittingly waving the disturbing faces.

Mashable Trend Report Decode what’s viral, what’s next, and what it all means. Sign up for Mashable’s weekly Trend Report newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

The images were also beamed onto big screens in Cardiff city center, according to users on Twitter.

The company put out an apology Thursday and said they had shut down the campaign, while Lineker himself referenced the issue in a tweet.

That doesn't mean there weren't screenshots and tweets that show how disastrous the social media stunt became. Some of the videos that made it through included images of serial killer Harold Shipman, accused sexual predator Rolf Harris, and sex offender Jimmy Savile. Another featured Joseph Stalin.

At least the "wave" selfie of former Vice President Joe Biden's smiling face isn't as as gruesome as the others.

Original image replaced with Mashable logoOriginal image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable
Featured Video For You
Who needs a plane when you can go skydiving from a drone
Author

Editorial Team

Our editorial team is dedicated to delivering accurate, timely, and engaging content. With expertise across various domains, we strive to inform and inspire our readers.