Microsoft changes online Xbox One form letter after getting sexism complaints

Last week, Microsoft sent out an email letting people who were buying an Xbox One during its launch a way to create a fictional "Doctor's Orders" note to get out of work to play on the console. The humorous promotion could be customized at various points and then printed out to give to an employer (we assume as a gag and not as an attempt at a real deception). Now it appears that a similar online form letter has gotten Microsoft into a little bit of trouble.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the latest promotion for the Xbox One was directed at men who have a wife or steady girlfriend to convince them, again in a humorous way, to let their man buy the Xbox One this holiday season. However, the default choice for one of the lines in the customizable letter stated, "You’d rather knit than watch me slay zombies, but hear me out on this: Xbox One is actually for both of us."

That default selection generates a lot of complaints on Twitter, including this one from Danielle Burger:

Later in the day, Microsoft removed the "knit" choice in the menu options completely. A Microsoft spokesperson said, "The letter is fully customizable and we meant no offense, but understand how the defaults could be perceived. We’re making changes to the letter defaults and apologize for the oversight."

Source: Wall Street Journal | Image via WSJ