M&S forced to apologise after some social media users take offence at festive party hats being burned in an open fire – pointing out they are the same colours as the Palestinian flag
Marks & Spencer was forced to apologise yesterday for a light-hearted image of Christmas hats being burned after critics pointed out they were the colours of the Palestinian flag.
The picture, which showed red, green and silver paper party hats that had been thrown into an open fire, appeared on Instagram for the launch of the chain’s festive TV advert featuring TV star Hannah Waddingham.
But some social media users accused M&S of ‘promoting the burning of the Palestinian flag’ – and the firm deleted the picture. M&S later apologised for any ‘unintentional hurt’.
It comes to the backdrop of Tel Aviv bombarding Gaza in retaliation to Hamas’s barbaric attacks on Israel on October 7.
In a statement issued Wednesday night, a spokesperson for M&S tweeted: ‘Today we shared an outtake image from our Christmas Clothing and Home advert, which was recorded in August.
Marks & Spencer was forced to apologise yesterday for a light-hearted image of Christmas hats being burned after critics pointed out they were the colours of the Palestinian flag
‘It showed traditional, festive coloured red, green and silver Christmas paper party hats in a fire grate.
‘While the intent was to playfully show that some people just don’t enjoy wearing paper Christmas hats over the festive season, we have removed the post following feedback and we apologise for any unintentional hurt caused.’
After the images went viral, one user said: ‘This is outrageous M&S. Boycott them immediately.’
Another posted: ‘I will boycott M&S for this and I have shopped there for 29 years.’
But many Instagram users defended the image.
One wrote: ‘Get a grip people! M&S you have done nothing wrong. The ad was not in bad taste at all.’
Another added: ‘Such a shame you’ve even had to issue this statement, people need to lighten up and stop reading into everything.’
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