Smokers asked to discard cigarette butts in 'Harry and Meghan: will it last?' trash bin

A cigarette trash bin is creating some unexpected controversy in the U.K. because it asks smokers to vote with their cigarette butts on the future of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s marriage. “Harry and Meghan: will it last?” reads the bin, with cigarette disposal options marked with “Forever!” and “No way.”

While the bin is part of a U.K. initiative to encourage smokers to dispose of their cigarette butts via a “vote with your butt” ballot bin, this particular bin — found in Southend on Sea Essex — has really rubbed people the wrong way.

The bin photo began circulating on Twitter when a Meghan Markle fan account, @meghanmaven, posted an image of the bin with the caption: “Saw this today, really distasteful.”

Sabrina Anderson, who runs @meghanmaven as well as a website of the same name, tells Yahoo Lifestyle she was disheartened by what she calls a “hostile” message.

“I randomly came across the ballot bin walking around an area I had never been to before,” she says. “I stopped dead in my tracks and thought, ‘Really?’ It seems rather unnecessary and hostile to use Harry and Meghan’s names for this.”

Many people agree.

The Southend Business Improvement District official Twitter account responded to the backlash by posting: “It is intended to be a bit of fun and to entice people to dispose of their cigarettes instead of throwing on the floor.”

“Although I do understand and appreciate it’s for a good cause, the wording and question should have been different,” Anderson says.

She adds: “It’s in poor taste and I hope it doesn’t stay there for long.”

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

• Dynamic duo Meghan Markle and Queen Elizabeth will reunite for awards show
  

• Shop 13 summer boat neck tops inspired by Meghan Markle
  

• Meghan Markle criticized for wearing ‘too big’ Oscar de la Renta dress

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.