A company in New Zealand has apologized for ringing in the holidays in very offensive fashion.
“I hope your sack is fuller than mine this Christmas,” reads the billboard from Cranium Signage, which features the famous Vanity Fair cover picture of Caitlyn Jenner, Photoshopped to include a Santa hat.
The tagline, of course, is a reference to Caitlyn’s transformation this spring from man to woman.
The reality star has not, however, undergone surgery, meaning her “sack” is just as full as ever.
But the company’s mistake in this area isn’t really the focus of critics.
Rebecca Jones, mother of a nine-year-old transgender boy, told Stuff.co.nz that the billboard (which is located in East Tamaki, just outside Auckland) is “absolutely disgusting,” explaining why as follows:
“Transgender suicide rates are extremely high. If they had put a racist board up, would they have got away with it? They shouldn’t be mocking a marginalized sector of society.”
Added Jesse Evenblij to The New Zealand Herald:
“The company should be ashamed. People just have no clue how Caitlyn has literally saved lives by making transgender ‘normal.’
“Young people can look up to Caitlyn and realize they aren’t alone.”
It’s certainly true that Caitlyn Jenner has done all she can to serve as a role model within the LGBT community.
Following a number of these complaints, Cranium Signage owner Phillip Garratt issued a mea culpa.
“I as the owner have no feelings of discrimination to the Gay or transgender community and if one of my family was I would love them just the same,” he wrote on Facebook.
“Cait is more then welcome to stay at my house with my family anytime. I will have a wine or a beer with her quite happily and it would be an honor.”