A German magazine has been condemned by the parents of Madeleine McCann for its “extremely hurtful” satirical take on the publicity surrounding the girl’s disappearance.
Titanic magazine published a double-page spread in the form of a spoof advert for a supermarket, depicting a number of products promoted with the image and name of the little girl, who went missing while on holiday in Portugal in May.
Titanic editor Oliver Nagel has defended the feature, saying it was not a criticism of the McCanns and it was meant solely for a German audience.
But the couple’s spokesman Clarence Mitchell said: “This is not only extremely hurtful to Kate and Gerry but totally disrespectful to Madeleine.”
The magazine had not sought permission to use Madeleine’s image and the McCanns’ lawyers were now studying the publication, Mitchell said.
Over the spread, the magazine says Madeleine McCann “has become the most famous face in the world and probably the universe” and that it is a logical next step that her image be used for product promotion.
Nagel said: “It was just for a German audience. The magazine is not ever published outside Germany.
“I would not say anything. We don’t go round apologising for the articles we are printing.
“We are not making fun of a child getting lost but we are making fun of the media blowing it all up to such a good height.”
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog