One of Gay Byrne's daughters has reacted to a post by crisp firm Tayto that paid tribute to her late father.
The now-deleted tweet from the Irish company on the day of Gaybo's death had read: "It's a sad day for the Nation (sic). Rest in peace Gay."
It was accompanied by an image of mascot Mr Tayto, who looked saddened at the passing of the former RTE Late Late Show host.
Tayto's post, coming so soon after the news and accompanied with the mascot picture, had rubbed some users the wrong way and was deleted later that day.
No explanation has been given, but there has been an outpouring of posthumous support for the tweet since.
Former RTE and 4FM radio presenter Gareth O'Callaghan wrote a lengthy defence of the post on Facebook, describing it as "poignant and cute in a harmless, heartfelt way".
He concluded: "I know for sure that Gay would be having such a laugh today at the debate that has broken out over the comments of a cheese and onion crisp. Makes me want to laugh and cry."
And Gay Byrne's daughter Crona responded, saying: "Gareth, well said as always.
"I certainly don't have an issue with the post from Mr Tayto and I certainly don't think that dad would have had either!!"
The full post from Mr O'Callaghan read: "This is an image from Twitter that has caused a storm today. Or is that just a storm in a teacup?
"Take a look at it. It's the character Mr. Tayto looking very sad. His little short message says it all. I personally thought it was so poignant and cute in a harmless heartfelt way.
"Instead, as a result of a 'deluge of public revulsion at the insensitivity of the creators of this cartoon...blablabla...', Tayto felt obliged to remove the tweet, which ironically is now going viral - thanks to all those do-gooders and politically correct types who appear to have very little do with their time except object to something that I know Gay Byrne would most likely have loved and laughed at in equal measures.
"The people who objected to this clever and endearing little piece of animation genius clearly need to cop on, and understand that life is too short for their chronically constipated, rose-tinted view of what they believe the rest of us should all be thinking.
"Most of these contributors I've been reading probably don't even know how abstract and how outside-the-box Gay Byrne actually was down through the years in his thinking - in terms of trying to do things differently; and his tireless efforts to shock the establishment and shake them out of their neanderthal 'safe' culture.
"A suggestion from someone who knew him: Learn from the best instead of lamely following the rest. Be unique and study what is different and so important about creating your own opinions and beliefs.
"Stand out. Think differently. Reflect instead of react.
"Mr. Tayto might not be a real person to many. But his sentiments in this caption are, and they express the same sad feelings that so many real people feel this evening; and maybe that's the point of the cartoon. Animation is just a more adaptable version of reality. Think of The Simpsons.
"Sometimes it helps to see the sadness of life, and in turn the reality of life's truths, through the eyes of an animated cartoon character that so many children love and can relate to, in order to make sense of what lies ahead of us all; and, in doing so, to make the confusion of all that stretches out before us that little bit easier to deal with.
"Instead, sadly, the PC opportunists seized the chance here to jump on board and abjectly denounce something that many of us feel is both poignant and harmless.
"The normal smiling face of a well-known cartoon character we see here is looking unexpectedly confused tonight, and sad and lonely.
"Or maybe it's in keeping with the real human grief that comes from the struggle of letting go of someone who many people thought they knew, but it's only now that they're finally starting to get to know.
"After all, the world is so much quieter and more vulnerable without them around.
"I know for sure that Gay would be having such a laugh today at the debate that has broken out over the comments of a cheese and onion crisp.
"Makes me want to laugh and cry."
Gay's family has requested that anyone who wishes to donate in his memory to do so to two charitable organisations which helped the late broadcasting star.
His funeral mass will be held at St Mary's Pro-Cathedral on Marlborough Street in Dublin city centre at 12pm on Friday, November 8.
Mr Byrne's family are asking anyone who wished to make a donation to please do so to either to the Irish Cancer Society or St Francis Hospice.
