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Pub slammed over Facebook post aimed at 'maggot-infested' kids

A pub owner has come under fire for a post on social media promoting free meals for “maggot infested” children.

Various venues across Bradford in England have offered free meals for vulnerable children during the holidays, the Telegraph and Argus reported, one of which was The Cricketers Arms.

On Facebook, the pub’s owner made a controversial post, which did not sit well with people online.

“Please feel welcome to bring your starving, maggot-infested, lice-riddled kids to The Cricketers Arms Jam sandwich workshop,” the owner wrote.

It appears the post may no longer be on social media, though the Telegraph and Argus reported within hours people were responding to the owner angrily.

The Cricketers Arms in the UK came under fire after the owner made a Facebook post offering free meals to vulnerable children. Source: Facebook
The Cricketers Arms in the UK came under fire after the owner made a Facebook post offering free meals to vulnerable children. Source: Facebook

In the comments, the owner said he would not be deleting his post, or any of the comments.

“if people want to buy into the concept that the government needs to be feeding people's children this half term, that’s their business,” he said.

"My view is that the poor are being stigmatised and their supposed needs been used for political capital.”

The Telegraph and Argus spoke to the pub’s owner, Richard Peter Dawson, to confirm he wrote the post.

"You should not have to explain or apologise for humour,” he said.

"There are no maggot-ridden kids out there.

Currently, Manchester United’s Marcus Rushford is petitioning the UK Government and Parliament to end child food poverty and expand access to free meals for children under the age of 16 through school holidays.

“Covid-19 has been tough on us all but Government should ensure children don’t pay the price,” the petition which has been signed by more than one million people says.

The Facebook post was intended to be funny, while offering children free meals. Source: Telegraph and Argus
The Facebook post was intended to be funny, while offering children free meals. Source: Telegraph and Argus

Though Yahoo News Australia could not find the controversial post, people are leaving negative reviews on TripAdvisor, which may have been set up after the Facebook post made headlines in the UK.

“Richard is obviously in the wrong job. He's better off selling up because he's just found a sure fire way to annoy half the country,” one person said.

Although, on Google, the pub boasts a 4.3 star rating out of five.

“Nice atmosphere great friendly people drink there plus nice staff and good value alcohol,” one person wrote over a year ago.

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