Pizza advert withdrawn for 'poor taste'

Rex Features

A New Zealand pizza chain's Halloween advert has been withdrawn following allegations of "bad taste".

Hell's Pizza showed dancing skeleton animations of the late Sir Edmund Hillary, Heath Ledger and the Queen Mother, with Michael Jackson's hit 'Thriller' playing in the background.

The fast food chain apologised for the promotion after family members of Hillary complained. A spokesperson said: "Clearly [Sir Edmund] is revered in New Zealand and we all love him. The idea of Sir Ed being there was intended to be a light-hearted remembrance."

Hillary's son Peter told the Dominion Post: "I think it's disturbing... a little grotesque."

The firm's marketing director Rachael Allison commented: "Interpretation of this is always up to individuals and we are always mindful of that and always keep an eye on our tone of voice and try to keep on top of that."

Hell's Pizza has caused controversy with its promotions in the past. It handed out free condoms with its Lust pizzas and featured Adolf Hitler doing a Nazi salute in a 2007 campaign.