Yorkshire burger van promotes Mother's Day with Madeleine McCann image

Yorkshire burger van promotes Mother's Day with Madeleine McCann image

Joe Scholey, owner of Otley Burger Company, had a message for people who are offended: 'LOL'

BySamuel Port

19:54, 27 MAR 2022


The Otley Burger Company shared this controversial Mother's Day post on social media (Image: Facebook: The Otley Burger Company)

A Yorkshire burger van owner has promoted his business on Mother’s Day by featuring missing tot Madeleine McCann and her mum.

The Otley Burger Company in Boroughgate, Leeds, wrote: “With burgers this good, you’ll leave your kids at home. What’s the worst that could happen [sic] Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there.”

Then three-year-old Madeleine McCann went missing in 2007 on a family holiday in Portugal with parents Kate and Gerry.

This is not the first time The Otley Burger Company has used controversial posts to promote their business. Their Mother’s Day post last year featured disgraced mum Karen Matthews, who faked the abduction of her own daughter Shannon in 2008. Last year's Father’s Day post, featured images of killers The Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe and Fred West and necrophile Jimmy Saville, among other controversial figures.
Owner says: 'LOL'


The Otley Burger Company shared this controversial Mother's Day post on social media (Image: Facebook: The Otley Burger Company)

The Otley Burger Company owner Joe Scholey, 29, said “I couldn’t care if people are really offended”. Speaking to Yorkshire Live, he said: “I don’t really have a message to them [those offended]. Maybe LOL? It’s a good laugh, isn’t it? I couldn’t care if people are really offended, I really don’t.”

The burger man, who doesn’t have any children, explained that each time he pulled the controversial stunt it goes down well with his customers and he takes in a lot more money. He said: “Many years ago in the land of lockdown, we posted one and it got a bit of attention and it brought a lot of money in.


Joe Scholey, owner of The Otley Burger Company (Image: Facebook: The Otley Burger Company)

“So I thought, if I can do that every year, it’s a couple £100. We thought with a couple £100, I could spend it on myself. The following year, I posted the Karen Matthews one again and everyone went absolutely mental – I thought ‘this could be bad!’ but it turned out to be the opposite. I got a load of money again.

“So I thought, this year, I need some new watch batteries – my battery is bust!”

The post on social media has drawn mixed responses.

“Time for more free National advertising,” wrote Graeme Scholey, along with a series of thumbs up and a crying-with-laughter emoticon.

“Free McCann of Coke With Every Purchase?”joked Claire McInhirst.

Mahmood_Ihatenumbers said: "Madeline McCann and her mum in this post? Seems a bit sick and in very poor taste."

To that, the owner replied: "Only thing sick here is our photoshopping skillz."

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/whats-on/yorkshire-burger-van-promotes-mothers-23515941
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Juvenile, not clever, not funny (LOL ) but any publicity is good publicity I guess.

The important thing is an important anniversary on the horizon so ....

well least we know he’s not buying McCann’s story

CaKeLoveR wrote:I wonder if they'll sue him?

The inference is there but that’s all. He’s had his exposure & fun if he’s asked to remove it.

It's gone viral..

Of course the team won't sue Burgerman, ready made nasty troll material.

Where would the campaign stand if not for the troll element.



Evidence however must be destroyed at all cost ....

I strongly suggest Mr Burgerman of the Oily Burger Company bun fight will now become a local tourist attraction..

Leeds takeaway owner gets death threats, egged and bricked over 'disgusting' posts about Madeleine McCann, Peter Sutcliffe and Karen Matthews

Joe Scholey, owner of The Otley Burger Company, says he's been bricked, egged and called a 'monster'





A Leeds takeaway owner says he’s been receiving “death threats” after sharing an image of Madeleine McCann to promote his business for Mother’s Day.

Joe Scholey, 29, who owns The Otley Burger Company, cracked a ‘joke’ on social media about the missing girl and her mum Kate McCann. Along with pictures of the pair, the post said: “With burgers this good, you’ll leave your kids at home. What’s the worst that could happen [sic] Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums out there.”

The post split audiences on Facebook. People have called it “unacceptable”, “absolutely disgusting”, along with calls for the burger-joint to be shut down. Whereas others have called it a “bit of fun”, even claiming McCann's parent didn’t deserve sympathy.

Read more: I spent £190 in a Leeds Michelin star restaurant - and ate food with less flavour than a Pot Noodle

The Otley Burger Company is situated in a silver old fashioned burger trailer, which Joe purchased for £16,000 with help of a loan, in the beer garden of The Otley Tap House in Boroughgate in the market town centre.

Joe, who stands at 6’3”, can't hold back a smirk when he talks about the post, which has outraged so many. He’s been known for provoking social media attention through the takeaway’s Facebook and Instagram account over the past few years.

The 29-year-old, who employs 20 members of staff, sees causing outrage as “playing the game, playing to win” as each time it’s resulted in more sales. Joe says it has attracted death threats, however.

The takeaway owner, originally from Harehills, said: “I get death threats. I got one this morning. I got a petrol bombing one this morning - which is always good.”

Joe showed a message where a person wrote “I hope someone firebombs your gaffe”. The burger man told the person to “s*** a d*** you dosser” and called him a “c***” and a “turnip”. Joe hasn’t reported threats to the police and doesn’t seem particularly concerned about them any longer, he says he receives that many.

Joe has defended the post. He said: “I’m not taking the mick out of a missing toddler. I’m basically putting, ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ to all the mums. She [Kate McCann] is a mum. Not the world’s greatest mum and not the world’s worst. She’s a mum, there’s one there."

Madeleine, then three, disappeared in 2007 while she was on a family holiday in Portugal. Parents Kate and Gerry left her unattended in the hotel room, with her siblings, while they were out with friends at a nearby restaurant.

'Monsters'

The Otley Burger Company has also been egged and bricked on multiple occasions, following the controversial posts. Joe said he’s only involved the police once as he doesn’t think there is much point in reporting bricks as he couldn’t prove who’s done it.

Recalling one occasion, Joe said: “This guy just started egging the s*** out of me and calling us monsters. Then all the chefs kicked off and ran after them down the street. I just thought it was hilarious.

“The ones who throw bricks are pathetic, they need to grow up – coming from me, that’s quite funny. The ones who post stuff on Facebook, they’ve got to expect me to give them it back.”

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/best-in-leeds/restaurants-bars/leeds-takeaway-owner-gets-death-23524966

U can never trust those burger vans u never know what u r really eating -it's gotta be an April fools joke

CaKeLoveR wrote:I wonder if they'll sue him?

Absolutely

I certainly don't condone burgerman's actions but if the advert was so offensive, why splash it across the gutter press, again, nearly a month later?

biggurllypants wrote:U can never trust those burger vans u never know what u r really eating -it's gotta be an April fools joke

There are people who eat burgers and Frankenchicken nuggets and Danish bacon, but won't have Covid vaccine because they don't know what's in it.