A Belfast bar has issued a statement after a social media post regarding the Six Nations sparked a backlash.
Town Square, at Botanic Avenue, posted a 'permission slip' asking females to allow their partners to attend a "field trip with the boys" to watch the rugby.
The Instagram post, which has since been deleted, read: "Dear Girlfriend/Fiancé[e]/Wife
"Your Boyfriend/Fiance/Husband has been invited to watch the rugby with the lads at Town Square Belfast on the following dates: [Five dates listed].
"These outings obviously require your permission.
"Kind regards, The Lads."
It was captioned: "Get the permission slips signed! We're giving away free pints of Guinness for the first 6 minutes of every Ireland game during the Six Nations."
The post was then edited, adding "#notjustformen, #politicialcorrectness, #girlslikerugbytoo and #cliché," before being removed.
One Twitter user said: "I love the Six Nations but this makes me want to barf," while another said: "Patronizing, childish and boring."
A third said: "What is this nonsense?" while another said: "I. Did. Not. Give. Birth. To. My. Husband."
Other users disagreed, with one saying: "Looks like a bit of humour. Move on," and another adding: "It's a s**** joke. Everyone needs to lighten up..."
Another social media user stated that people are "offended by everything these days!"
A Town Square spokesperson told Belfast Live: "We usually don’t mind ruffling a few feathers on our social media but when the post in question caused offense to a few individuals, we removed it. Since Monday, the story has travelled all over the world and it seems like the majority of people have appreciated the post in the way we originally intended."
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