M&S apologises over Instagram post after burning green and red Christmas hats compared to Palestinian flag

2 November 2023, 09:59 | Updated: 2 November 2023, 10:23

The post drew criticism
The post drew criticism. Picture: Instagram/@MarksandSpencer

By Asher McShane

Marks & Spencer has apologised after an Instagram post showing burning Christmas hats was compared to the Palestinian flag.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The image, an outtake from its Christmas advert, was posted on the official M&S Instagram account.

It showed red, sliver and green paper hats being thrown into a fireplace, with the caption: “This Christmas, do what you love... like saying no to paper hats.”

The post drew criticism
The post drew criticism. Picture: Instagram/@MarksandSpencer

Social media users compared the colour of the hats to those on the Palestinian Flag, and questioned the timing of the post given the violent conflict in Israel and Gaza.

One commenter wrote: "This is absolutely vile, you should be ashamed of yourselves."

Another agreed: "Absolutely disgusting. Even if it was recorded in August you should have reshot this image or used technology to make changes. Shame on you!!!"

One user on X, formerly Twitter, said: "How come you have that much hate to deliver disguised as "Christmas celebration"?"

M&S said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday: "Today we shared an outtake image from our Christmas Clothing and Home advert, which was recorded in August.

"It showed traditional, festive coloured red, green and silver Christmas paper party hats in a fire grate.

Read more: Masked men unleash ‘mice attack’ on third McDonald’s branch amid slew of 'free Palestine' protests at chain

Read more: Watch shocking moment activist shouting 'free Palestine' lets dozens of mice loose in McDonald's

"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."

The Instagram post was shared on Wednesday morning but subsequently deleted after drawing fierce criticism.

Other shoppers defended M&S and said the chain should not have had to apologise for the image.

One said: "Why are you apologising when it was recorded in August? If some stupid person thinks you have purposely just made it up since the 7th Oct then that's down to them. Deary me.."

Another wrote: "Oh for heaven's sake. I don't often use the word snowflake but this is ridiculous. You're apologising because people got 'offended' by a photo of Christmas hats in a fire grate?"

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Phillip Schofield quit This Morning earlier this year

ITV 'did not cover-up evidence of Phillip Schofield's affair with This Morning runner before star quit,' review finds

A British Airways flight had a near-miss with a drone, a new report has revealed.

British Airways flight carrying 216 passengers missed illegal drone by just 20ft while 3,000ft in the air over Windsor

The gondola capsized after the tourists refused to stop taking selfies

Group of tourists dumped into Venice canal after they 'refused to stop taking selfies' causing gondola to capsize

Will Brown was killed in a hit-and-run

Boy, 7, killed in hit-and-run while trying to catch football, heartbroken father reveals as police hunt driver

British politicians and civil society have been targeted by Russia

Russian spies accused of sustained campaign to hack phones and emails of UK politicians and journalists

Ruth Perry

Ofsted inspection 'likely contributed' to death of headteacher Ruth Perry, inquest rules

Investigators work at the scene of a shooting in a classroom of a school in Bryansk, Russia

Russian schoolgirl shoots several classmates before killing herself

Rishi Sunak insists he controversial Rwanda policy will work despite turmoil within the Tory party

Rwanda plan will succeed, Rishi Sunak insists at emergency press conference but denies new law is a vote of a confidence

Benjamin Zephaniah has died.

Peaky Blinders star and poet Benjamin Zephaniah dies aged 65 eight weeks after brain tumour diagnosis

Double child-killer Colin Pitchfork

Double child killer Colin Pitchfork to stay behind bars after Parole Board rules he cannot be freed

Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel

Strikes on Gaza’s southern edge sow fear in one of last areas people can flee to

Illia Kyva

Ukrainian 'traitor' ex-MP assassinated in Russia after he called for Putin to use weapons of mass destruction

Sunak faces a revolt over his attempts to get flights to Rwanda off the ground

Rishi Sunak to hold emergency news conference in Downing Street amid Tory turmoil over Rwanda flights

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russian legislators set March date for presidential election

Joey Barton posted a series of misogynistic Tweets about female football commentators

Joey Barton fires off misogynistic tirade on Twitter claiming ‘women shouldn’t be talking about the men’s game’

Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre, stands for a group photograph with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, right, and European Council president Charles Michel prior to their meeting

Divides on trade and Ukraine in focus as EU and China’s leaders meet in Beijing