An inflatable Christmas tree has been deflated by vandals after it was compared to a sex toy by far-right groups.
The 80ft high structure called ‘Tree’ was created by American artist Paul McCarthy and was placed at the Place Vendome as part of contemporary art fair Fiac.
But some critics said the tree looked like a giant sex toy, which was confirmed by the artist to Le Monde newspaper and intended as a joke.
Printemps Francais, a far-right group, posted on Twitter: “Taxpayers – this is where your money goes.”
French daily newspaper Le Monde reported one passer-by even smacked the 69-year-old artist in the face and screamed: “You’re not French and the work has no place on the square.”
This morning it was reported vandals clambered a metal fence surrounding the instillation and cut the power supply to a pump which kept it filled with air.
Police said one of the straps that kept it upright was also severed.
McCarthy has said he does not want it to be re-erected.
