Veggie McCartney blasts McDonald's for portrait display
9 Oct 2008, 1246 Hrs

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London, Oct 9 'Beatles' legend Sir Paul McCartney has blasted McDonald's for displaying his picture, accusing them of using it to attract customers.

McCartney, who has been a vegetarian for 30 years, was furious when he heard the news of his portrait appearing alongside bandmate John Lennon and fellow veggies Ringo Starr and the late George Harrison at a Liverpool branch.

"What sort of morons do McDonald's think Beatles fans are?" the Sun quoted McCartney's spokesman Geoff Baker as fuming.

"It's ridiculous and insulting to use images to peddle hamburgers. Fans should boycott McDonald's - and not just in Liverpool," he stated.

McCartney is president of the Vegetarian Society of Great Britain and an ambassador for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

"He became a vegetarian after watching lambs play in a field outside his home and surely would not want anyone to use his likeness to help promote meat," a PETA spokeswoman said.

"We hope anyone who sees his picture on the wall will be reminded that he's a vegetarian and skip the Big Mac for a veggie burger," she added.

A spokeswoman for McDonald's, however, insisted that the display was in honour of them.

"The pictures were to acknowledge the outstanding contribution the Beatles made to both local and global culture," the spokeswoman said. (ANI)