A Halifax smoke shop that sells drug paraphernalia is targeted by Walt Disney Co. after adorning its building with a mural featuring the characters of the Seven Dwarfs.
Sweet Leaf Smoke Shop owner Kenny Banks had the mural painted last summer, featuring Disney's famous Seven Dwarfs using a joint and a bong, among other drug equipment.
The Halifax Regional Municipality intervened this spring after a neighbor complained that the advertising wasn't appropriate, and Banks was ordered to remove the marijuana references by May 1st.
The dwarfs stayed in place, however - until Walt Disney Co. recently heard about the mural.
In a letter last week, the company demanded that the entire painting be covered up because the characters are Disney's intellectual property. So Banks had the dwarfs covered with whitewash.
In the end, Banks said had no hard feelings despite being out $1,800 for the mural, stating he has received the kind of publicity money cannot buy.
Some residents interviewed by reporters said the mural added colour to the area. Others were offended by it, especially parents. "A lot of people on the street have kids and they're starting to get to the age where they are asking, 'What is that they're holding?'" said parent Ethan Neville.
Banks plans to replace the image with something slightly less controversial.
Add Reply