To many people, superheroes like Spider-Man are simply fun characters to watch on screen--but for many others, they can be lasting tributes to loved ones. Such is the case of Lloyd Jones, who, following an appeal to allow for an image of Spider-Man to be printed on his deceased son’s tombstone, is being aided by a fan petition.
According to Complex, the story emerged from the tabloid publication The Sun, who said that Jones was allegedly denied the rights to print Spider-Man on the grave of his late son Ollie, who sadly passed away due to a genetic condition. Initially, Jones approached the Maidstone Council, which governs the town of Maidstone, Kent, where he lives, but he was later reportedly denied permission by Disney.
Get behind this people. A friend of mine from my hometown of Maidstone is battling the might of Disney for something as small as Spider-Man’s image on his son’s grave but as gigantic as his boy’s memory. https://t.co/k9cYQloeuX
— Graham Batchelor (@GrahamBatchelo2) July 9, 2019
The report explains that the company refused, on the grounds that, since the time of Walt Disney, they have not allowed their characters to appear “on headstones, cemetery, or other memorial markers or funeral urns." They also reportedly offered their “sincere condolences” and said that “If we played a small part in Ollie's happiness we are honoured.
Subsequently, however, three petitions on Change.com have attempted to raise support for Jones to be offered an exemption, with all three numbering in the thousands--and the highest nearing its goal of 10,000.
We’re glad to see such a strong show of support for the Jones family.