Who Knew A Christmas Tree Looked So Much Like A Butt Plug?

In the immortal words of Orson Welles, "Ahhhhh, the French!" Only in France would an 80-foot sculpture that looks more like a butt plug than a Christmas tree get such prominent placement in the Place Vendome. 

According to The Independent (link below), the sculpture is actually by American artist Paul McCarthy (did he get an assist from John Lemmon, George Henderson, or Bringo Starr by any chance?) 

Simply called “Tree”, it is towering over the Place Vendome as part of a contemporary art fair.

McCarthy, who is no stranger to controversy, designed the piece specifically for the “Fiac” festival but it has not been taken well by some critics.

Okay, but this is France. Everyone there is completely level-headed and progressive when it comes to sex, right?

Printemps Francais, a far-right group that opposes gay marriage, has been complaining on Twitter.

“Taxpayers – this is where your money goes!” said one post, while another claimed the Place Vendome had been “disfigured” and Paris “humiliated”.

At least they didn't pull out that old chestnut, "won't someone think of the children?" That must be exclusively American. This is par for the course for McCarthy, however, who really likes sticking it to people...

He also created a giant inflatable installation depicting excrement in Hong Kong last year and in 2011, an exhibition of his work in London included a pair of animatronic George W Bush sculptures having sex with pigs.

Score one for the Yanks, I suppose!

Via The Independent