U.K. Bakery Targeted for Making Gingerbread 'Persons' Instead of Men

A British bakery is facing outrage after a photo of "gingerbread persons" in its display went viral.

It all started when Demii-Leigh Heffron posted a photo of the treat to Facebook earlier this week, writing, "It's happening. it's actually happening ... Stop the earth, I wanna get off."

The post, which now has nearly 14,000 shares, exploded with angry comments. "Omg the world is going mad - it's a gingerbread MAN and always will be," wrote one user. Others took to Twitter to express their outrage that the cookie was not deemed male.

Thomas the Baker, the bakery in northern England where the cookies were made, has already received harassing comments, even though it has been calling the treats "gingerbread persons" since the 1980s.

An anonymous employee told Pink Newsthat the shop had received hundreds of calls regarding the cookie. "I really don't know what's happened," said the worker. "I've no idea. We've called them that since 1983."

The shop even went on Twitter to explain the cookie's gender-neutral name.

You can still purchase gingerbread persons in the bakery, regardless of your gender or hair color.