An 80-foot inflatable tree in Paris looks a lot like a giant butt plug

‘Tree’, Paul McCarthy’s monumental artwork at Place Vendome on Oct. 16 in Paris, France.

Image: Chesnot/Getty Images

Shield your eyes, art aficionados.

A giant inflatable sculpture was erected in Place Vendôme in Paris, France, on Oct. 16, and ever since, it has been making waves for locals and tourists alike. The reason may be fairly obvious: The sculpture, called “Tree,” looks suspiciously like giant butt plug.

Paul McCarthy’s piece of art, which measures roughly 80 feet tall, was installed as part of a contemporary art fair. Despite McCarthy’s insistence that his work is simply meant to resemble a Christmas tree, people can’t keep their minds out of the gutter.

Some, including those from a movement called the “French Spring” (Printemps Français), were humiliated by the installation.

Un plug anal géant de 24 m de haut vient d’être installé place Vendôme !
Place #Vendome défigurée !
Paris humilié ! pic.twitter.com/vv7fzZWC62

— Printemps Français (@nelachonsrien) October 16, 2014

(Rough translation: Place Vendome is disfigured! Paris is humiliated!)

But others can’t take enough hilarious pictures of themselves hanging out next to a giant sex toy in a public square.

McCarthy’s art has come under fire before, according to the Daily Mail, which noted his history of taking innocent icons (such as Santa Claus, below) and reimagining them in a risqué context.

Image: Wikimedia Commons F.Eveleens

It’s hard to imagine this sculpture’s sexually suggestive appearance was merely a coincidence, but either way, you can’t help but feel a bit awkward. Especially if you’re reading this at work.

Image: Tumblr

The art fair ends on Oct. 26, but it’s unclear whether the butt plug — oops, tree — installation will be dissembled by then.

BONUS: 25 Awkward GIFs for Your Cringe-Worthy Moments

Awkward GIFs

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   1. When someone greets you by name and you don’t recognize them.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Tumblr nipstudent
   

   
   
   
   


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   2. When you’re seated between two people who are fighting.

   
   

   
   

   
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   3. When your attempts at seduction fall flat.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Tumblr pandalala
   

   
   
   
   


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   4. When distant relatives are overly familiar.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Tumblr karamigo
   

   
   
   
   


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   5. When you unexpectedly run into a friend you just heard a rumor about.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Tumblr frenchisntcool
   

   
   
   
   


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   6. When you’re giving a demonstration and you make an obvious mistake.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Tumblr vinnylovesmike
   

   
   
   
   


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   7. When you take a bite of something disgusting but it would look rude to spit it out.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Tumblr blakknblew
   

   
   
   
   


8. 
   

   
   
   

   
   

   8. When someone catches you trying to avoid them.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Tumblr phenomenallyextraordinary123
   

   
   
   
   


9. 
   

   
   
   

   
   

   9. When a date’s flirting veers into creepiness.

   
   

   
   

   
   Image: Tumblr ricardogdavis
   

   
   
   
   


10. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    10. When you’re not super excited about something but you feel the need to match your friend’s enthusiasm.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr lokisballerina
    

    
    
    
    


11. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    11. When a friend is trying a little too hard to be cool.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr tiikyo
    

    
    
    
    


12. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    12. When your desperation to fill the silence results in gibberish.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr guh-gifgarden
    

    
    
    
    


13. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    13. When you attempt a dance move you’ve only seen once before.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr capn-devdev
    

    
    
    
    


14. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    14. When you don’t know how to tell someone you’re not interested.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr newrhythm
    

    
    
    
    


15. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    15. When you accidentally go to wave with both hands.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr samygamgee
    

    
    
    
    


16. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    16. When you use slang incorrectly.

    
    

    
    

    
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17. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    17. When everyone at your lunch table is discussing a TV show you don’t watch.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr lsatprincess
    

    
    
    
    


18. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    18. When you accidentally reveal your crush.

    
    

    
    

    
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19. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    19. When you try a new look and realize it’s not working when it’s too late to change.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr college-life-crisis
    

    
    
    
    


20. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    20. When you’re stuck next to a PDA-happy couple.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr sighsomemore
    

    
    
    
    


21. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    21. When you trip publicly and dramatically.

    
    

    
    

    
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22. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    22. When you miss a catch.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr themasterofallprocrastination
    

    
    
    
    


23. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    23. When someone catches you staring.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr girlgrowingsmall
    

    
    
    
    


24. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    24. When a new friend insults something they don’t know you like.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr louistomlikson
    

    
    
    
    


25. 
    

    
    
    

    
    

    25. When a friend recounts an embarrassing story about you.

    
    

    
    

    
    Image: Tumblr whatshouldberkcallme
    

    
    
    
    

Read more: http://mashable.com/2014/10/17/paris-butt-plug-sculpture/

An 80-foot inflatable tree in Paris looks a lot like a giant butt plug