An innocent joke or disrespect for the victims of coronavirus? The chocolate bunny in the medical mask provoked mixed reactions in Germany.

The chocolate Easter bunny, which appeared in the markets of Germany, with an edible protective mask on its face and a white chocolate nurse’s robe provoked heated discussions on the Internet. Some consider this chocolate figurine a good joke, while others think it is tasteless and vulgar.

At the WAWI-Schoko-Welt in Rhineland-Palatinate, the news of how their Easter chocolate was perceived was shocking and surprising. “We just wanted to make people smile,” a company spokesman told the German news agency. “No one thought to downplay the scale of the coronavirus crisis.”

WAWI CEO, Richard Müller apologized to all those who felt offended and hoped that "we will not lose our sense of humor even in these difficult times." The company announced that it will donate the chocolate bunnies from sale to charity. The manufacturer of chocolate products from  WAWI-Schoko-Welt produces about ten million chocolate Easter hares per year.

Among the critical comments about the chocolate bunnies, one in particular, sounds as following: “Affected by the coronavirus deserve respect and sympathy” and “The coronavirus caused incredible suffering around the world. And here the Easter bunny is named after him.” But there were also positive reviews. Some people liked the idea. "Especially in such difficult times, it's nice to see that businessmen have a sense of humor," one user wrote. Another user writes: “Awesome bunnies! Hamsters would be even better!”