The Cookie Monster has sparked a row in the UK after appearing on a BBC TV show wearing a poppy.
The Sesame Street puppet had a poppy pinned to his fur while interviewed on BBC1’s evening magazine programme The One Show.
Hard to get your head around the mentality that thinks there's a need to pin a poppy on Cookie Monster. pic.twitter.com/b67hemyrG6
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) November 7, 2016
But scores of viewers took exception to this, saying it ‘trivialised’ the sacrifices of the war dead whom the poppy is supposed to commemorate.
It is almost compulsory for anyone appearing on BBC TV at this time of year to wear a poppy. Poppies are worn until Armistice Day on November 11.
Chris McGovern of the Campaign for Real Education told MailOnline: ‘This is clearly setting a bad example for children. What is this telling them about the poppy – that it’s insignificant and somehow funny?
‘To put the poppy on a puppet trivialises what the poppy stands for – it’s totally inappropriate. It needs to be worn with respect – it’s not a fashion accessory, it’s a serious statement which remembers those who gave up their lives for this country.
‘I think it is disrespectful. The puppets are funny, comedic creatures, so this is trivialising the poppy.
The Cookie Monster was made to wear a Poppy on the One Show last night. I am choosing to regard this as satire, and thus genius. pic.twitter.com/ngp87vuqJE
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) November 8, 2016
But Comedian Dara O’Briain speculated the puppet’s wearing of the poppy was in fact ‘satire and thus genius’.
The burning question is, what has happened to the poppy? Has the Cookie Monster eaten it?
Om nom nom nom.
