Despite doing considerable box-office business, X-Men: Apocalypse has been at the centre of some controversy in recent weeks.

One of its main marketing posters showed Jennifer Lawrence's character, Mystique, being held up and choked by Oscar Isaac's character, Apocalypse. In the film, Apocalypse is an all-powerful mutant who's bent on destroying the world and those humans and mutants he deems to be inferior so as to create "a better world."

Many of the posters showed a key scene in the film in which Apocalypse holds Mystique by the throat and makes one of his proclamations. However, the image has come in for sharp criticism by activists who feel that the imagery is reminiscent of domestic abuse. Some have argued, on the other hand, that the image isn't misogynistic or condones violence against women.

Rose McGowan spoke up against Fox's decision to use this scene as part of their promotional campaign, saying that "...the fact that no one flagged this is offensive and frankly, stupid."

Since then, Fox has issued a public apology for the posters. "In our enthusiasm to show the villainy of the character Apocalypse, we didn’t immediately recognize the upsetting connotation of this image in print form. Once we realized how insensitive it was, we quickly took steps to remove those materials. We apologize for our actions and would never condone violence against women."

So, that's that. Now, over to you. Did you find the poster offensive? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and vote in our poll.

 

Via Deadline