Naked Michelangelo Santa' upsets parents

[dutchman]

A Texas homeowner has been forced to cover up his public replica of Michelangelo's David with a pair of shorts after local parents complained about the statue.

Barry McBee had dressed his 5-foot copy of the Renaissance work in a Santa hat and beard for the holiday period, The AP reports.

McBee said of his ornaments: "I just like to shock people to make them laugh, kind of break the monotony around here. I just bring them out occasionally."

However, Big Spring city officials were contacted by parents whose children had reportedly asked them why Santa was naked.

City attorney Linda Sjogren accepted that the matter did not violate any local laws or obscenity regulations but after consulting others asked McBee to cover up the statue.

McBee agreed and put on a faux-velvet black and white pair of shorts with a bow on the offending replica.

"I think if it offends any children, I didn't want to do that," he explained.