Plans to burn 30-feet Armstrong effigy on ‘Guy Fawkes’ day causes outrage

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Washington, Nov. 2: A plan to burn an effigy of disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong and adorn it with references to late TV presenter Jimmy Savile, who was suspected of widespread child abuse, has caused outrage in the UK.

Residents of Edenbridge, Kent planned to burn a 30-feet tall steel-framed model of the 41-year-old American, who was recently stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping offences.

The effigy has Armstrong holding a sign saying “For sale, racing bike, no longer required” and with a Jim’ll Fix It badge round his neck as well.

However, the effigy, organized by the Edenbridge Bonfire Society, has already been criticized by members of the public ahead of the planned November 5 burning on the ‘Guy Fawkes’ day, CNN reports.

“Shame on you for selecting Lance Armstrong as your guy; who has personally raised over $500 million for cancer charities,” read a comment from one visitor to the society’s website.

“What message are you trying to project? If the organizing committee had any morals or backbone you would scrap this decision and to further associate him with Jimmy Savile is disgraceful,” it added.

Bonfires are traditionally decorated with a stuffed “Guy,” to mark a failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and others to blow up the houses of parliament and kill King James I in 1605.

But the Edenbridge Bonfire Society has gained a reputation for using celebrities instead, and have burned celebrities such as British prime minister Tony Blair, ex-French president Jacques Chirac and deceased Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. (ANI)