The controversial billboard depicting Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper, with the food replaced by chips, burgers and pizzas was removed yesterday and replaced today.
All those offended by the sight of Jesus Christ and his 12 apostles dining on fast food as part of a New York Best advert can collectively breathe easy as the mural, despite having Jesus Christ’s image torn off last Saturday, was replaced by a photo showing just burgers.
The billboard caused massive controversy, especially on social media, as everybody and his or her cat had strong opinions in favour and against.
Some took offence at the use of religion to further a private business’ profits, others took offence at what they perceived it to be mockery of their religion while some simply found the alteration of Leonardo Da Vinci’s masterpiece to be in bad taste.
Those in favour however said they are fed up of seeing un-inspired and boring adverts in Malta and welcomed a little tongue-in-cheek humour, criticising Malta for being unable to laugh its own traditions and culture.
Yesterday, when speaking with NYB founder Tommy Diacono on whether the billboard will be replaced with something else that is likely to capture people’s attention, he said that the company is ‘tired of controversy’ and went for a more classic image of one of its own burgers enlarged, six of them next to each other in a single file.
On Saturday afternoon, ring leader of the controversial right wing Moviment Patrijotti Maltin Henry Battistino, together with another party member Desmond Falzon, ripped off the image of Jesus from the 12-metre billboard. He later posted an image of Falzon and himself smoking cigarettes and holding the ripped image, accompanied with a post on how he could not sit back and allow people to make a mockery of his religion.
He has since removed the social media post. Wilful damage of property in Malta is a criminal act that can lead to a fine and even a prison term. If the damage is over €250 the police can prosecute without the injured party having to make a complaint.
Photographs by Baskal Mallia