Asda forced to remove 'vile' poppy tribute to dead soldier after complaints
SUPERMARKET bosses have been forced to remove a poppy display depicting a dead soldier following complaints.
Asda bosses were forced to remove the Remembrance Sunday tribute
Shocked Asda customers at the shop in Harpurhey, Manchester slammed the "vile" and "digusting" tribute ahead of Remembrance Sunday.
The controversial display featured the crumpled figure of a fallen serviceman covered in poppies.
Some shoppers were particularly horrified that staff placed the display by copies of Halo 5: Guardians – a violent video game.
Brad Wray, who served in the Royal Air Force for seven years, said the tribute was in "pretty bad taste".
The 26-year-old added: "Everything done by the Royal British Legion is very professional and respectful.
"For someone who has served and seen casualties on the battlefield, or a family member who has lost someone, to walk and see that could really trigger stress.
"I'm glad it was changed."
How anybody ever thought this was a good idea at @asda needs their head testing. Absolutely disgusting. pic.twitter.com/s9Mr9MMkV5
— kie (@henderz_) November 6, 2015
It's disgusting that you have removed the poppy display
But many social media users were outraged at the memorial being taken down.
Andy Kay wrote on Facebook: "Removed a fallen soldier poppy statue because it offended people. Well, its removal offends me."
And Derek Hanstock said: "Cowards! It's disgusting that you have removed the poppy display. I've spent my last penny in any Asda."
Display of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London last year
A spokeswoman for the supermarket insisted the display was intended as a mark of respect to fallen soldiers.
She said: "We're proud to support the Poppy Appeal in our stores across the UK and have been welcoming volunteers from the Royal British Legion into our stores to sell remembrance poppies.
"Our colleagues have been holding fundraising activities in stores to support the Poppy Appeal and it was not our intention to cause offence with the poppy display at the Harpurhey store.
"There were a couple of complaints about the use of the mannequin within the display so a decision was made to remove the mannequin but leave the rest of the display and poppies standing."