Beth Orton has come under fire for vandalising a tree in Joshua Tree, California for her new video.
The video for '1973' - which has since been taken offline - depicts the English singer spray-painting one of the iconic Joshua Trees of the Mojave Desert in various colours.
A petition by local residents was launched, demanding that she should apologise and make a donation to the Mojave Desert Landscape Trust to pay for the restoration of the tree.
Ancient joshua tree illegally vandalized by @beth_orton for music video. Spray paint will kill this tree. #SICK pic.twitter.com/v5GfNNLyAb
— Jay Babcock (@jaywbabcock) May 28, 2016
Ancient joshua tree illegally vandalized by @beth_orton for music video. Spray paint will kill this tree. #SICK pic.twitter.com/v5GfNNLyAb
— Jay Babcock (@jaywbabcock) May 28, 2016
Orton has since apologised, saying that she thought that the tree was dead.
Her full apology on Facebook read:
“I am so sorry. I feel sick with disgust. I was told the tree was already dead. I will take the video down now. Please let me know what I can do to help make some kind of amends. I did not direct the video and was following direction but now I know what I have been part of I feel utterly devastated and of course take responsibility for my part. I am truly and deeply sorry.”
The video's director, photographer Tierney Gearon, has not commented.