A German public broadcaster has pulled a satirical song performed by a children's choir which describes a grandmother as an "old environmental pig".
A video of WDR's children's choir singing an altered version of the German classic "My grandma rides a motorbike in the chicken coop" prompted an intense backlash over claims it encouraged generational conflict over climate change.
Online critics took offence at a section of the doctored song where the grandmother drives to the doctor in an SUV with the singers declaring: "My grandma is an old environmental pig."
The clip was taken down from the channel's Facebook page on Friday evening and on Saturday WDR boss Tom Buhrow apologised personally "with no ifs and buts".
The governor of North Rhine-Westphalia state in Germany, where WDR is based, was among those who were not amused.
Armin Laschet wrote on Twitter: "The debate about the best climate protection is increasingly being escalated by some into a generational conflict."
He added that WDR's song "crossed the limits of style and respect for older people. Instrumentalising the young against the old is not acceptable".
The mass-circulation daily Bild gave the issue front-page treatment on Monday, saying in an editorial that people born in the 1950s did a lot "to hand over a better, rich, peaceful country to their children and grandchildren".
The German government's efforts to combat climate change have been a top political issue in Germany over recent months.
Environmental activists have criticised ministers for not going far enough.
