The Selfridges window display (left) and Frank Sidebottom. Photograph: Getty/WireImage
It's the sort of rumpus comic Chris Sievey and his creation Frank Sidebottom would have loved. When one of Selfridges' window displays was unveiled recently in its London store, it was found to feature dolls with papier mache heads said to bear a striking similarity to comic creation Sidebottom, who of course made a papier mache head his trademark. However, Frank, who died in June of cancer, wore smart suits and occasionally a football top – never a red dress, stockings and suspenders.According to Selfridges, its eyebrow-raising display was designed by its "head of visual", who was apparently seeking to "respond to the shift towards the simpler pleasures in life", and not simply transforming a much-loved character's head into something rather rude.
However, the store has admitted to "similarities" between the images – after an internet and Twitter outcry generated the sort of controversy Sievey/Sidebottom relished. "Selfridges ought to be ashamed of themselves for stealing a dead man's clothes," was a typical withering comment.
The store has also apologised to Sievey's "very upset" family and offered them a fee – believed to be £10,000 – for image use.
However, there may be more controversy to come. "Everyone says it looks like Frank," says Sievey's miniature hand puppet replica, Little Frank, via a family friend. "But really it's me they look like, not him!"
― Mark G, Wednesday, 3 November 2010 14:36 (thirteen years ago) link