French President Nicolas Sarkozy has asked his lawyer to take legal action against low-cost airline Ryanair for using a photo of him and girlfriend Carla Bruni in an advertisement.
The Ryanair ad, published in the French newspaper Le Parisien on Monday, shows the smiling couple with a comic book speech bubble coming from Bruni’s head.
“With Ryanair, all my family can come to my wedding,” it says.
Sarkozy’s adviser, Franck Louvrier, said the French leader is requesting the immediate removal of the ad. It was not immediately clear if he would also seek damages.
Sarkozy’s office considers the ad “an improper use of the president’s image,” Louvrier said.
Ryanair said in a statement: “It was a humorous comment on a matter of great public interest in France. We apologize sincerely for any offence caused.”
The romance between the recently divorced president and the supermodel-turned-singer has captured headlines since they went public with it in December.
Sarkozy, 52, has hinted that marriage is on the cards with Bruni, 40, though he has not disclosed a date.
This is not the first time Ryanair has used a politician’s likeness without permission. The company has used photos of former British prime minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in past ads.
The Irish budget airline last year reportedly settled out of court a lawsuit brought by Sweden’s ex-prime minister, Goran Persson, after it used his picture without his consent.
