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26th July 2024
02:20pm BST
The Sinéad O'Connor waxwork, which was unveiled at Dublin's Wax Museum recently, is set to be removed following complaints from fans.
On the one-year anniversary of the iconic singer's death, owner of the tourist attraction Paddy Dunning has announced a decision to remove the effigy after considerable backlash from the public.
Speaking to The Irish Sun, Dunning revealed that he called a meeting of museum staff this morning and spoke to PJ Hegarty, the artist behind the model.
"I'm just not with it," he told the Irish Sun. "Unfortunately this likeness of Sinead was delivered to the Wax Museum yesterday morning and I didn't have time to review it.
"Sinéad O'Connor was a personal friend of mine. I knew it wasn't right but I still had to go ahead with the launch because so many press and media were coming."
The waxwork was created to honour the Nothing Compares 2 U singer, who died on July 26, 2023, aged 56.
However, hours after images of the statue were shared online, unimpressed fans flooded to social media calling for it to be taken down.
One person called it 'scary looking', while another said it was 'absolutely horrendous'. One other individual described it as an 'insult to her memory.'
In a statement shared on social media this afternoon, the National Wax Museum Plus has acknowledged that "the current representation did not meet [the museum's] high standards or the expectations of Sinead's devoted fans."
"We have listened closely to the reactions and agree that the figure does not fully capture Sinead's unique presence and essence as we intended," the post continues.
"Sinead O'Connor's impact on Ireland and the global music community is immeasurable, and our goal has always been to honour her in the most fitting and respectful manner."
The museums states that it is "committed to creating a new wax figure that better reflects Sinead O'Connor's true spirit and iconic image" – with their "team of skilled artists" set to "begin this project immediately, ensuring that every detail is meticulously crafted to celebrate her legacy appropriately."
As a result, the job of creating a new Sinéad likeness will have to go to someone else.
"PJ has made some fantastic models for us," he said. "I know he could do better."
Speculating on where the controversial artwork might end up, he added: "I think people will still want to see it, so we might keep it somewhere."
Sinéad O'Connor was found dead in her flat in Herne Hill, London on 26 July 2023 aged 56 — 18 months after beloved son Shane, 17, took his own life.
A week before her passing, the star recorded a livestream in which she revealed she had been "living as an undead night creature" since Shane’s suicide in January 2022.
A visibly emotional Sinéad added: "We were one soul in two halves. He was the only person who ever loved me unconditionally. I am lost in the bardo without him."
