Wax museum withdraws Hitler 'selfie' figure after international outcry

An Indonesian wax museum has been forced to withdraw its Adolf Hitler figure after an international outcry.

Selfie photos with models of wax celebrities are almost as popular as photos with the real thing, and Indonesia’s De MATA wax museum offers life-sized replicas of some two hundred historical and / or fictional characters to satisfy the demand.

But that number has been reduced by one this week as the Yogyakarta tourist attraction’s model of the genocidal dictator – set up in front of an Auschwitz-themed backdrop – has been removed.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center told the Associated Press agency “Everything about it is wrong. It’s hard to find words for how contemptible it is,”

“The background is disgusting. It mocks the victims who went in and never came out.”

In response, the museum’s marketing officer Warli said that the Hitler figure was “one of the favourite figures for our visitors to take selfies with.”

“No visitors complained about it. Most of our visitors are having fun because they know this is just an entertainment museum.”

That said, he continued “We will follow the best advice and the response from the public,”

“Let people judge whether the character is good or bad.”