'Forever Marilyn' or #MeToo Marilyn? Monroe Sculpture Stirs Up Commotion In Palm Springs
The 25-foot sculpture of famed Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe recently has been relocated to Palm Springs, California, to attract tourists -- but not without controversy.
After spending time in Chicago, New Jersey, and Connecticut, the sculpture will make its way back to the small Southern California city. "Forever Marilyn" can be considered a historic staple piece that is known to bring in tourists and previously did just that in its last Palm Springs endeavor from 2012 until 2014.
A recent unanimous decision made by the city council declared they would bring back the sculpture by artist Seward Johnson and place it outside the Palm Springs Art Museum. It was purchased by a city-funded tourism agency.
The statue was brought in hopes to be a good thing, yet many are calling it “hyper-sexualized.” The sculpture captures Monroe in the white dress from her iconic role in the 1955 film "The Seven Year Itch."
Some say the Monroe statue is unnecessary given the surge in tourists.
"They're talking about helping all the struggling businesses downtown who have lost revenue because of Covid. But if you look at the place lately, it's a zoo. Our numbers have been better than they were in 2019," said Trina Turk, owner of a flagship store downtown, in a phone call with CNN.
The sculpture is now seen as a symbol of misogyny by showcasing Marilyn’s underwear to all its viewers, explaining the #MeToo movement slurs.
"She's literally going to be mooning the museum," said Elizabeth Armstrong, a spokesperson for a Change.org petition, and a former director of the Palm Springs Art Museum.
"We challenge Palm Springs to find more appropriate ways to honor her memory and the true legacy of Marilyn Monroe," the Change.org petition reads. As of Wednesday night, there are nearly 42,000 signatures.
Monroe is considered one of Hollywood's most famous actors. She starred in several films, including "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" and "Some Like it Hot." Monroe died in 1962 from a barbiturate overdose at age 36.
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