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Fast-food giant Burger King has had to apologize following a backlash over a Holy Week-themed advertising campaign in Spain.
“We apologize to anyone who felt offended by our campaign to promote our vegetable products during Holy Week. It was never our intention to offend anyone and we have already requested the immediate withdrawal of the campaign,” Burger King said sent on Twitter on Easter Sunday.
Burger King sign and restaurant (iStock)
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The apology came after users on social media criticized the company for a poster campaign promoting its new veggie burger with the words of Jesus at the Last Supper.
“Take all of you and eat of it,” read one of the ads. “Which has no meat. 100% vegetarian. 100% taste. Big King Vegetables.”
Another ad read “meat of my flesh” but crossed out the word “meat” and replaced it with vegetables.
Parishioners stand in prayer at Saturday Mass at the Catholic Church in Cazurra, Spain (AP Photo/Manu Brabo)
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The ad campaign drew the ire of Catholics on social media in Spain, where over 60% of the population is Catholic, with some using the hashtag #boicottBurgerKing calling for a boycott and others signing an online petition calling for a boycott Company has been asked to dismiss a top-level executive.
“They mock the Eucharist and the death of Christ in the holiest time of Christians,” the petition reads. “They use Holy Week to launch an offensive campaign against the millions of believers to get advertising and money.”
“Apparently, loss of culinary taste and lack of respect for religious sentiments go hand in hand,” Bishop José Ignacio Munilla of Orihuela-Alicante tweeted in response to the ad.
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Bishops walk during a procession at a mass honoring the family in Madrid, Spain (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)
Burger King did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News.