National Wax Museum Pulls ‘Hideous’ Figure of Late Singer Sinead O’Connor: ‘I Was Shocked’
A wax figure of the late singer Sinéad O’Connor was removed from display at the National Wax Museum Plus in Dublin after it was criticized by fans and family for its poor likeness. The museum had unveiled the figure to commemorate the first anniversary of her death on July 26, 2023. John O’Connor, her brother, described the representation as “hideous” and compared it to a mannequin rather than a tribute to his sister. The museum apologized to the family, acknowledging that the figure did not meet their standards or the expectations of O’Connor’s fans, and announced plans to create a more accurate version. O’Connor was a beloved figure in Ireland, known for her controversial career and her famous cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Her death prompted an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans and notable figures. The incident highlights the challenges artists face in capturing the likenesses of famous personalities accurately.
A wax figure of Sinéad O’Connor that did not compare to how the late singer looked caused a minor meltdown among fans and family members, leading a Dublin museum on Friday to pull it from its collection.
The National Wax Museum Plus apologized to O’Connor’s family and said it would immediately begin creating a more accurate representation of the singer best known for her 1990 cover of Prince’s ballad “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
John O’Connor said it was a “hideous” representation of his sister that looked like a cross between something in a department store window display and a 1960s sci-fi TV show that used electronic puppets.
“When I saw it online yesterday, I was shocked,” he told Irish broadcaster RTE. “I thought it looked something between a mannequin and something out of the ‘Thunderbirds.’”
The museum had unveiled the figure Thursday in honor of the first anniversary of her death. O’Connor, 56, died in her London home of natural causes on July 26, 2023.
O’Connor, who became a controversial figure after she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live in 1992, was considered a national treasure in Ireland, where she had started out performing on the streets of Dublin.
Fans filled the street of her former seaside hometown during a funeral procession in August following a private service attended by then-Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, President Michael Higgins and musical luminaries, such as Bono of U2 and Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats.
Accurately capturing the likeness of celebrities has famously tripped up many an artist.
A Polish wax museum was ridiculed last year for what some called creepy depictions of Kate, the Princess of Wales, and her husband, Prince William. A sculptor mocked for his bronze of Portuguese soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo went back to his studio to create a do-over that was more warmly received.
Likewise, U.S. women’s soccer star Brandi Chastain got a replacement for a panned plaque where she was compared to looking like actors Gary Busey and Mickey Rooney and former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
Paddy Dunning, the Dublin museum’s director who called O’Connor a longtime friend, said she deserved a better tribute.
“In response to the public’s feedback regarding the wax figure, we acknowledge that the current representation did not meet our high standards or the expectations of Sinead’s devoted fans,” the museum said in a statement.
John O’Connor said he was upset by the timing of the unveiling and the fact that no one had contacted his family.
“As I said earlier, the world may have lost a star, and they did, but I lost my sister,” he said. “It just should not have been put there even without checking with somebody: ‘Is this all right?’”
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