American artist slapped in the face after erecting giant sex-toy sculpture in the middle of Paris

U.S. artist Paul McCarthy told French newspaper Le Monde that his work entitled Tree had been inspired both by a sex toy and a Christmas tree.

When he went to see it on Place Vendome, a man slapped his face before running away, the paper says. [BBC]

French Spring, a French far-right group opposed to gay marriage, posted a picture of the controversial inflatable on Twitter, adding: "Place Vendome disfigured! Paris humiliated!"

It added: "This is where your tax dollars are going!" [Daily Mail]