Poundland stuns Twitter with X-rated Elf on the Shelf

Discount chain Poundland has raised eyebrows on Twitter with a raunchy ad campaign featuring children’s Christmas favourite Elf on the Shelf.

A series of photos posted to the bargain brand’s official account showed the toy making off-colour quips or posed in compromising positions.

In one, he is shown riding a donkey and bragging about finding a “new piece of ass”:

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Another image depicts the elf playing cards alongside topless dolls:

And that’s just for starters...

Many were less than thrilled to see the popular children’s character portrayed as a 1970s-style sex pest, particularly in light of recent sexual harassment scandals:

Other users simply couldn’t believe that the X-rated tweets had been intentionally posted to a corporate Twitter, not usually a haven for blue humour:

However, not everyone was turned off by the bargain chain’s unexpected dive into vintage smut:

A particularly eye-popping photo showing the rosy-cheeked elf squatting over a female doll and dangling a Twinings tea bag over her face - a reference to a sex act nicknamed teabagging - was a step too far for Twinings.

After the tea company complained about the “misuse” of its product, Poundland took down the photo - and replaced it was an identical one using a generic teabag:

Despite the backlash and the public dust-up with Twinings, Poundland remains unrepentant - inviting Twitter users to check the account for more Confessions of an Elf shenanigans at “tw-elf o’clock”.