By Desiree Salas (media@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Oct 20, 2014 07:05 AM EDT

Paul McCarthy's inflatable sculpture, called "Tree," has recently been under fire for its appearance, as it reportedly looked more like a sex toy than a Christmas symbol. And for that, vandals thought it deserved to be taken down Friday night.

The 80-foot tall art piece was set up on Place Vendome, a well-known square in Paris, on October 16 "as part of a contemporary art fair," Mashable reported. However, the sculpture caused a public uproar and became the subject of social media jokes not long after it was displayed. Some have even taken "hilarious pictures of themselves hanging out next to a giant sex toy in a public square."

"Locals are angry because it looks way more like a butt plug than a holiday decoration," New York Magazine said. "So far, a right-wing, anti-gay-marriage group has opposed the sculpture."

The 69-year-old American artist himself also got a taste of the anger of irate onlookers as he reported being slapped three times in the face by a man, when he went to check the sculpture at the plaza, the BBC reported.

"The stranger, who slapped him three times, shouted that he was not French and that his work had 'no business being on the square,'" the news source said.

However, those familiar with McCarthy's work won't be surprised with his latest creation. He's been known to produce risque installations that manage to shock viewers. And "Tree" is no exception -- the artist was quoted as saying that the green sculpture was an "abstract work" based on a sex toy joke.

Vandals have since managed to take the sculpture down the next day. The huge inflatable artwork "fell down after a group of people severed the cables holding it up," with its pump destroyed to keep it from being re-inflated.

"Individuals have severed the cables that hold the sculpture in place, taking advantage of a momentary lack of a security guard," a police spokesperson was quoted by The Huffington Post UK as saying. "Investigations are ongoing."

Meanwhile, the Minister of Culture in France, Fleur Pellerin, said that the incident is "an attack on creative freedom."

Anne Hidalgo, current mayor of Paris, said that the city "will not succumb to the threats of those who, by attacking an artist or a work, are attacking artistic freedom," as noted by Mashable.

Jennifer Flay, the artistic director of the International Contemporary Art Fair (FIAC) which the controversial piece is part of, said that the work is naturally controversial as "it plays on the ambiguity between a Christmas tree and a plug."

"This is neither a surprise nor a secret," Flay went on, as quoted by The Huffington Post. "But there is no offense against the public and enough ambiguity to not disturb the children. This work has also received all necessary approvals: the Prefecture of Police, the Mayor of Paris and the Ministry of Culture, in collaboration with the Comité Vendôme..."

"What is art [meant to do] if not to disturb, to prompt questions, to reveal flaws in the company?" she asked in conclusion.

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