In the wake of Tuesday's deadly terror attacks in Brussels, the spire of 1 World Trade Center was lit up in black, yellow and red in what was meant to replicate that nation's colors — but the honor was lost on some observers.
As dusk set and into the evening, social media lit up with observations that the 408-ft. spire appeared to glow red, white and blue instead of the colors of the Belgian flag.
Should have gone Belgian 🇧🇪 #1WTC pic.twitter.com/p72WwrllbG
— maxlockie (@staphwriter) March 23, 2016
Some thought the red, white and blue was intentional, lighting up in American colors.
Tonight @OneWTC is lit in black, yellow and red as NY stands in solemn solidarity with the people of Belgium. pic.twitter.com/XupRXw4fb2
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 23, 2016
.@GettyImages: One World Trade Center glows red, white & blue to show solidarity w/Brussels after terror attacks pic.twitter.com/FFU16mEztP
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 23, 2016
While others, including British tabloid The Daily Mail, accused the WTC of not knowing what the Belgian colors were.
It appears that the WTC was not aware that the Belgian flag’s colors are red, black and yellow. See Eiffel Tower. pic.twitter.com/4kQj68eD9X
— Mark F. Bonner (@markfbonner) March 23, 2016
But a spokesman for the Port Authority said the intention was always black, yellow and red, it just took some time for the colors to get there against a darkening night sky.
"Making lights appear black is always tricky," said spokesman Steve Coleman. "The WTC was initially lit at 10 percent white (which was intended to appear dark grey/black) but was then darkened even more after dusk to make it look more black."
After 9 p.m., Governor Cuomo, who had ordered the Belgian colors to be lit at the spire, tweeted a photo, showing what appears to be a closer black, yellow red color scheme
Tonight @OneWTC is lit in black, yellow and red as NY stands in solemn solidarity with the people of Belgium. pic.twitter.com/XupRXw4fb2
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 23, 2016
