A popular Melbourne pub has hit back at massive backlash over several ‘tasteless’ social media posts making light of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The general manager of Kelly’s Hotel in Cranbourne was shocked over the outrage that erupted.
Despite being inundated with death threats, Michael Goldie told Daily Mail Australia he has no regrets.
He insists the posts are only intended to remind younger generations to spend time with and appreciate elderly loved ones while they’re still alive.
Most of the posts have been deleted but not before sparking widespread anger as former, and potential patrons vowed to boycott the venue.
‘Do lunch before they die. The opportunities after are extremely limited,’ one post featuring a photo of the late Queen with her grandson Prince Harry was captioned.
The pub insists the posts intended to serve as a reminder to younger generations to spend time with and appreciate elderly loved ones
Hours later, the venue posted another picture of the Queen next to a photo of a distressed Harry after not making it to Balmoral in time before his grandmother died.
‘Yep, he cancelled lunch, time and time again,’ the post read.
‘She’ll keep till next week!’ he said. ‘It’s not as if it’s my Mum’s Mum’, he said. But next week never arrived for Grannie Windsor. Do lunch with your oldie!!’
Another post with a similar photo of Prince Harry read: ‘Another grandson inconsolable because he was too miserable to take his auld granny out to lunch. Don’t let it be you.’
A fourth post of several dressed-up corgis, the Queen’s favourite dog breed remains on the pub’s Instagram page.
‘No doubt in everyone’s thoughts, what about the Corgis!! Some say they are traditionally buried with the Queen others say not. I like to believe in a higher calling,’ it states.
A post from the pub about corgis which refers to the Queen’s death remains on Instagram
Kelly’s Hotel in Cranbourne has come under fire over posts making light of Prince Harry missing out on seeing his grandmother one last time before she died
Kelly’s Hotel in Cranbourne (pictured) has been inundated with death threats after posts about the Queen’s death sparked widespread outrage
The pub general manager admitted the Facebook posts about Prince Harry after the Queen’s death were ‘wrongly shared’
The deleted posts also served to promote the pub and its takeaway and delivery services, which sparked community anger.
‘It’s time to drop the warped (and sometimes deranged) humorous posts. Some of them have not even been funny and they’re not even relevant or related to your business. The moment you stray off track with polarising views it becomes damaging,’ a customer commented on the pub’s Facebook page
It also sparked many one star Google reviews vowing not to return
‘Tasteless food just like their Tasteless posts they do, disgusting behaviour & hope you lose all your valuable customers that kept you all afloat. Won’t be returning,’ a former regular patron posted.
Another reviewer wrote: ‘Complete lack of respect to our Queen. Totally embarrassing. Will never eat here.’
Kelly’s Hotel general manager Michael Goldie has hit back at the backlash, which he claims is a big misunderstanding
General manager Michael Goldie admitted to Daily Mail Australia the deleted posts about Prince Harry were ‘wrongly shared’ but stands by the message they intended to serve.
He added similar posts about the importance of spending time with elderly loved ones have been shared long before the Queen died.
‘I thought people would look at the posts as a reminder to phone their grandparents and go and see visit,’ Mr Goldie said.
‘They had a valid point in that Harry missed out on spending more time with his grandmother before she died.’
‘We’ve been urging everyone to take out their grandparents for lunch a long time now.’
Mr Goldie has no regrets about the offence the posts caused, despite the pub being inundated with threats.
‘Everyone is entitled to their opinion,’ he said.
‘Everything we do is a learning experience. Would I post them again? Possibly but I would probably do it differently.
The venue in Melbourne’s south-east is a fourth generation hotel dating back to the early 1900s.
The venue at the centre of a furore is a popular long-standing Melbourne pub
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