A Leeds takeaway owner has refused to apologise for using images of Kate McCann and her missing daughter Madeline in a poorly tasted Mother's Day 'joke'.
Joe Scholey, owner of Otley Burger Company, based in Boroughgate, Leeds, posted images of the mother and daughter on Facebook and Instagram, with the message: "With burgers this good, you’ll leave your kids at home. What’s the worst that could happen [sic] Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there.”
Madeleine McCann has been missing since the age of three when she disappeared on a family holiday with parents Kate and Gerry in Portugal in 2007. The missing case brought worldwide attention since.
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Despite the Otley Burger Company refusing to apologise for the message, this is in fact not the first time they've pulled a controversial promotional stunt. Last year, the posted an image of disgraced mum Karen Matthews, who pretended her daughter Shannon had been abducted.
The company also shared a post featuring images of killers The Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and Fred West as well as paedophile Jimmy Saville, among other controversial figures on Father's Day last year.
Speaking to Leeds Live, owner Joe, 29, who doesn’t have children, said his response to those offended was “LOL”. He said: “I don’t really have a message to them [those offended]. Maybe LOL? It’s a good laugh, isn’t it? I couldn’t care if people are really offended, I really don’t.”
Explaining why he makes the controversial posts, the burger man said: “Many years ago in the land of lockdown, we posted one and it got a bit of attention and it brought a lot of money in.
“So I thought, if I can do that every year, it’s a couple hundred pounds. We thought with a couple of hundred, I could spend it on myself. The following year, I posted the Karen Matthews one again and everyone went absolutely mental – I thought ‘this could be bad!’ but it turned out to be the opposite. I got a load of money again.
“So I thought, this year, I need some new watch batteries – my battery is bust!”
The response on social media has drawn mixed responses. “Time for more free National advertising,” wrote Graeme Scholey, along with a series of thumbs up and a crying-with-laughter emoticon.
“Free McCann of Coke With Every Purchase?”joked Claire McInhirst. Mahmood_Ihatenumbers said: "Madeline McCann and her mum in this post? Seems a bit sick and in very poor taste."
To that, the owner replied: "Only thing sick here is our photoshopping skillz."
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