A rendition of "Julius Caesar" by the Public Theater of New York City is losing two sponsors because of a gory assassination of the ruler resembling President Donald Trump.
Delta Air Lines and Bank of America pulled their sponsorship of the Public Theater of New York City over the weekend, according to CNN.
The Shakespeare in the Park's production at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park is a modern retelling of the famous play. This production, though, depicts Caesar as a reddish-blond businessman wearing a suit affixed with an American flag pin resembling Trump, NBC News noted.
His wife, Calpurnia, is well-dressed and speaks in a thick Eastern European accent, much like First Lady Melania Trump, noted NBC News. The depiction brought complaints from a Fox News commentator and even Trump's son Donald Trump Jr.
"This is so incredibly in poor taste that I'm surprised they haven't cast Kathy Griffin in the production," Fox News contributor Guy Benson said, referring to the comedian who drew backlash recently for showing a mock bloodied head of Trump in a photo shoot.
Delta announced dropping its sponsorship in a series of tweets Sunday.
"No matter what your political stance may be, the graphic staging of 'Julius Caesar' at this summer's Free Shakespeare in the Park does not reflect Delta Air Lines' values," the airline posted. "Their artistic and creative direction crossed the line on the standards of good taste. We have notified them of our decision to end our sponsorship as the official airline of The Public Theater effective immediately."
Bank of America followed suit with its own Twitter message late Sunday.
The Public Theater's artistic director Oskar Eustis defended the production, according to NBC News.
"Anyone seeing our production of Julius Caesar will realize it in no way advocates violence towards anyone," Eustis said in a statement, per NBC News. "Shakespeare's play, and our production, make the opposite point: those who attempt to defend democracy by undemocratic methods pay a terrible price and destroy their republic. For over 400 years, Shakespeare's play has told this story and we are proud to be telling it again in Central Park."
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