Two brazen billboards highlighting Canadian businessman Jack Stroll’s long battle to withdraw millions of dollars of his money from Global Bank caused a stir last month.
And while planning officials were quick to remove the offending canvases – citing defamation – there is little that can be done to stop artful artists getting in on the joke.
The billboards have now prompted a series of copycat memes by mischievous members of the public that are being widely circulated online.
At least six such images mimicking the billboards, featuring the face of bank boss Brian Stuart-Young and questioning the whereabouts of Stroll’s money, are said to currently be in circulation.
They might not exist physically but they are keeping Stroll’s crusade in the limelight. Stroll, who is pursuing legal action against the embattled bank, told Observer earlier today (SUN) that the memes complement the efforts of the so-called billboard bandit and that he welcomed the fight to preserve freedom of speech.
On Thursday, Cabinet spokesman Lionel Hurst defended government’s removal of the original billboard canvases – posted in Whenner Road and Bolans main road – reiterating their belief that the wording was libelous.
Questioned as to whether such an issue comes under the remit of the Development Control Authority which removed them, he responded that the body has a duty to protect the people.
Whether that will assuage the concerns of those who decry what they perceive to be an attack on freedom of expression remains to be seen.