After AT&T received a hailstorm of criticism over a 9/11-related tweet yesterday afternoon, it's again apologizing for the misguided blunder. But this time the apology is coming directly from the top. CEO Randall Stephenson has taken to the company's official blog in an attempt to explain what happened. "Yesterday, we did a post on social media intended to honor those impacted by the events of 9/11," he writes. "Unfortunately, the image used in the post fell woefully short of honoring the lives lost on that tragic day." Stephenson goes on to apologize to "customers, employees, and all those impacted by the events of 9/11."

The image in question featured a smartphone with the Tribute in Light superimposed on its screen. The words "never forget" accompanied AT&T's poorly received gesture, which was also posted to its Facebook page for a short time. Public backlash was immediate. "I consider that date a solemn occasion each year, a time when I reach out to those I was with on that awful day, share a moment of reflection for the lives lost and express my love of country. It is a day that should never be forgotten and never, ever commercialized." Stephenson closes by pledging that AT&T will never make a similar mistake again.