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McDonald’s removes mural celebrating diversity to make way for ad

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By Amy Houston, Senior Reporter

January 24, 2022 | 3 min read

McDonald’s has come under fire from residents in the Butetown area of Cardiff for painting over one of the town’s most-loved murals.

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The My City, My Shirt mural being painted over. Image via @sterrenlicht1 on Twitter

Dubbed ‘Cardiff’s Mona Lisa’, the artwork depicts a black woman cradling her baby bump wearing a Cardiff City football shirt and aimed to “bridge the gap between the local club and BAME communities“ according to project organizers Sawqi Hasso.

The ’My City, My Shirt’ mural was painted on James Street in Butetown in April last year by Cardiff creatives Yusuf Ismail and Shawqi Hasson and is part of a wider project of the same name.

On the initiative, Ismail has previously stated: “The main motivation was that we felt as football fans from Cardiff we have never felt represented at the club. We wanted to give a voice to the BAME football fans community of Cardiff.

“This work sheds a light on the incredible diversity of Cardiff, and the rich cultural heritage that we possess.”

Many in the town are dismayed that the wall has been painted over a mustard yellow color in preparation for the McDonald’s ad.

On Twitter, Cardiff South and Penarth MP Stephen Doughty asked: “What on earth are you thinking @McDonaldsUK?? Please contact me asap.”

The fast food chain has responded: “The site was hired by a third party working with the artist who painted the original mural. We were unaware of what was on the site prior to our installation and have instructed the artist to repaint his original mural immediately.“

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