The controversial ad, left, and Axl Rose, right. (Handout/WENN.COM file photo)

Controversial posters advertising Guns N' Roses upcoming Las Vegas residency have been taken down after campaigners accused them of glamorizing rape.

Axl Rose's band is performing a series of shows at the Hard Rock Hotel in Sin City until the end of the month and the concerts have been advertised with an image of a woman who appears to have been sexually assaulted under the city's famous 'Welcome' sign.

The picture appeared on posters, billboards and in newspapers, sparking outrage among anti-sexual abuse campaigners.

Hannah Brook, executive director of The Rape Crisis Center, tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal, "This type of advertising is simply unacceptable. Not only for just the victims and the message of violence it brings, but also for the community in general. This is not the type of message we want to portray to tourists that are coming to our city. We want them to know it's a safe place to come, and by putting a message out there with Las Vegas above it is concerning."

Bosses at the Hard Rock Hotel have now issued an apology and modified all of the ads.

A statement from the company reads, "Hard Rock Hotel & Casino regrets that the Guns N' Roses advertising for their current shows has offended any member of the community. The resort has decided to further modify the art and began the process of changing the materials (on Friday)."

The band's shows kicked off at the Hard Rock Hotel on Halloween.