The Leeds takeaway owner has received backlash for the comments made on Mother's Day where the business uses an offensive Madeline McCann for Mother's Day.
The Otley Burger Company posted a photograph of Kate McCann with missing daughter Madeline in the background, adding a text overlay which read: "With burgers this good, you'll leave your kids at home. What's the worst that could happen? Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there".
Adding the Otley Burger Company logo to the meme, the post itself was met with considerable outrage.
The post has since been deleted on Facebook but remains on Instagram.
The Mother's Day post. / Image: The Otley Burger Company
LeedsLive reported that the now-deleted Facebook post was filled with comments calling for the burger-joint to be shut down as a result and is even receiving death threats as a result of the post.
In an interview with LeedsLive, the takeaway owner says: “I get death threats, I got one this morning" which read "I hope someone firebombs your gaffe”.
On Instagram, arguments have broken out about the post with some suggesting the meme-style advertisement was uncalled for: "Let’s start a PR stunt using someone else’s dead daughter. [You're] just a greasy burger flipper stay in your lane".
Other said: "Madeline McCann and her mum in this post ? Seems a bit sick and in very poor taste" to which the Otley Burger Company, clearly unphased, replied "only thing sick here is our photoshopping skillz".
To the comment "Let’s hope you don’t lose a child, awful, insensitive post" the controversial burger company replied "I wouldn’t leave mine in hotel rooms soo".
The burger company is known for its inappropriate adverts. / Image: The Otley Burger Company
However, the post has also attracted attention from others praising the controversial burger company for their humour.
"Otley Burger Company, keeping the woke community away! Yesssss!!!" said one, whilst others reminded the world that this isn't the first time the Otley Burger Company have posted inappropriate so-called jokes on special occasions.
Last year, the company shared an image of Karen Matthews, a women who pretended her daughter had been abducted whilst on Father's Day, the page shared a promotional image with Jimmy Savile and Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.
Richard McCann, who lost his mother Wilma McCann after she was murdered by Sutcliffe condemned the advert stating “Why on earth would anyone think it was appropriate to use images of Sutcliffe, Savile and West on a Father’s Day advert for his burger company is beyond me [...] Otley Burger Company, shame on you”.
The takeaway's response. / Image: The Otley Burger Company
This year the post has hit newspaper headlines this year but has been met by an unphased owner, who shared a meme of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, replacing the actors with the words "offended keyboard warriors with cats as profile pictures" and the Otley Burger Company logo.
The follow-up comment by the takeaway company has been met with similarly bizarre comments like "If you have any out of date stuff we could throw them at all the snow flakes and laugh at them. Keep up the good work".
The Otley Burger Company was banned in 2021 from accessing their Facebook as a result but are still continuing to post on the account.
Feature Image- The Otley Burger Company
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People from Yorkshire wanted to take part in a new series of the ‘hardest quiz show on TV’
The BBC is currently looking for contestants from Yorkshire to take part in what is widely considered the hardest quiz show on TV.
That's right - Only Connect is back for another series on BBC Two.
Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell and first broadcast all the way back in 2008, Only Connect takes TV quizzing to the next level, as it sees two teams compete against each other by finding connections between seemingly unrelated clues.
In this quiz show - which viewers have dubbed one of the most challenging there is - knowledge only takes you so far, as the ability to think laterally is also deemed 'vitally important'.
A casting call for the upcoming 2027 series has been shared on the BBC website, with people from Yorkshire being encouraged to apply.
People from Yorkshire wanted to take part in a new series of the 'hardest quiz show on TV' / Credit: BBC
The casting call reads: "The popular BBC Two quiz show presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell returns for a new series in 2027.
"Only Connect is seeking teams of three players OR single applicants or teams of two looking for like-minded teammates to pool their combined wits to solve fiendish conundrums and vexing puzzles.
"This is the quiz series where, as in life itself, knowledge will only take you so far: patience and lateral thinking are also vital. It's all about making connections between things which may appear, at first glance, not to be connected at all."
Reckon you've got what it takes then? Applications are now open, and all applicants must be aged 18 or over and a resident in the UK or Channel Islands.
Leeds has been crowned one of the most ‘stressful’ locations in the UK to drive in
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Consider yourself a confident driver? Have a drive through Leeds.
Have you ever had the joy of driving the wrong way up a one-way road in Leeds City Centre? Perfect - then you know what we’re on about.
Whether you still have your L-plates on or you consider yourself a pro, driving can be anxiety inducing at the best of times, never mind when you’re in an unfamiliar area, with unclear signage and your passenger is reading the map upside down.
MoneySuperMarket recently conducted a study, to investigate where UK drivers felt least safe. It also uncovered that more than 8 in 10 UK drivers have avoided driving somewhere due to the journey feeling too stressful or difficult. We can’t be having that - nobody should have to miss out on visiting our lovely city.
Leeds sadly ranked as the fourth most stressful UK location to drive in, with an Overall Drivability Score of 25, closely following Manchester, then Derby, and Croydon at number one.
This was contrasted by Bath, which was named the ‘UK's easiest place to drive,’ where vehicle traffic has fallen by 0.9% over the last decade. To add insult to industry, Leeds racked up a whopping 6,000 road incidents, compared to the 357 incidents in Bath, in 2024.
The study analysed multiple factors, including road infrastructure, the numbers of road incidents, increasing traffic volumes, and higher levels of concern about vehicle crime, to conclude which locations drivers found most stressful.
It found that the top three sources of stress were dealing with aggressive or impatient drivers, driving in bad weather and driving in an unfamiliar area.
Carmine Mastrogiacomo, driving expert at Drive Therapy, revealed some ways that drivers can build their confidence on the road: "Confidence comes from experience. Start with routes you already know and repeat them regularly to build comfort. Gradually introduce new routes and challenges, setting realistic goals that stretch your ability without feeling overwhelming.
"If anxiety starts while driving, slowing your breathing can help your body relax. Try breathing in through your nose for four seconds, pausing, then breathing out through your mouth for six seconds. Practise this outside the car first, then use it when needed while driving.”
We may not be able to do anything about the weather, but come on - we can definitely curb (pardon the pun) that road rage and try to bring Leeds out of the top four this year.
The Hoot -
29th March 2022 
