Greggs the bakers have had to apologise profusely for a tongue-in-cheek nativity scene in a promotional photo for its first ever advent calendar with a sausage roll in the place of baby Jesus.
“We’re really sorry to have caused any offence, this was never our intention,” the bakers apologised, though they said they would not be withdrawing their advent calendar.
But an apology wouldn’t suffice for critics from the The UK Evangelical Alliance who accused Greggs of a “manufacturing a scandal to sell baked goods” to others who pointed out that as a Jew pork meat would have been forbidden for Jesus.
Simon Richards, chief executive of Right Wing pressure group the Freedom Association, went further calling for a boycott of Greggs as he was mostly angry that they were “cowards” and “would never dare insult other religions.”
Please boycott @GreggsOfficial to protest against its sick anti-Christian Advent Calendar. What cowards these people are: we all know that they would never dare insult other religions! They should donate every penny of their profits to @salvationarmyuk https://t.co/tAV7CRP7WM
— Simon Richards 🇬🇧 🏴#StandUp4Brexit (@simplysimontfa) November 15, 2017
After which all out holy war has broken out on Twitter:
I think it’s incredibly silly that you feel insulted by a sausage roll. I’m also relieved that you didn’t see the Greggs Scotch egg crucifixion scene last Easter. That would have really got your goat.
— Tim (@SittingByTheSea) November 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/crgsmth/status/930791099806965760
Just telling my kids to boycott #Greggs. @GreggsOfficial
— Catholic State Advocate (@LaCatholicState) November 15, 2017
I thought forgiveness is part of religion? #Greggs have apologised.. Also, I would like to say our local Greggs donates its leftover food to Frome's community fridge. Maybe we shouldn't be so quick to judge…. https://t.co/D4WDYDFO3J
— Στέλλα (@somersetbella) November 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/ThurstanStHouse/status/930830395851071488
https://twitter.com/RealBobMortimer/status/930459023660535808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fbusiness%2Fnews%2Fgreggs-says-sorry-advent-calendar-replaces-baby-jesus-sausage-roll-christmas-2017-a8055896.html
#Headlinechallenge: Greggs says sorry after advent calendar replaces baby Jesus with a sausage roll. Altogether now…OH CRUMB ALL YE FAITHFUL https://t.co/xfaMUZ6C9W pic.twitter.com/CBtIqHkA9Q
— Peter Barron (@PeteBarronMedia) November 14, 2017
They missed a trick by not adding the three pies men #Greggs #AdventCalendar pic.twitter.com/VTRaBb2bg0
— Dave Gregson (@dave_greg1) November 15, 2017
