The 26-foot-tall ‘Forever Marilyn’ statue, a grand tribute to Marilyn Monroe’s iconic scene from the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, is set to be relocated from its current site in Palm Springs, California. The decision marks the end of a prolonged and heated debate over the statue’s placement.
New Location within Downtown Park
Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein confirmed the move, stating, “The City Council is very pleased to have found a satisfactory solution to this issue, which has divided so many within our community.” The statue will remain within the 1.5-acre Downtown Park but will be repositioned to address ongoing concerns.
Controversy Surrounds Current Placement
The statue, which was reinstalled in Palm Springs in 2021 after a seven-year hiatus, has faced significant backlash due to its placement. Positioned at the edge of Downtown Park with Monroe’s sculpted back and exposed underwear visible from the Palm Springs Art Museum, it has drawn criticism from various quarters.
Museum executive director Louis Granchos was among the critics, highlighting concerns about the statue’s impact on museum-goers, particularly schoolchildren. Granchos noted that the statue’s positioning meant that visitors, especially young students, would be confronted with Monroe’s backside as they approached or left the museum.
Public Outcry and Relocation Efforts
The statue’s placement ignited debate, with local fashion designer Trina Turk emerging as a leading critic. Turk argued that the statue’s location was “inappropriate” and “sexist.” She spearheaded a campaign to have the statue moved, successfully raising over $115,000 through a GoFundMe campaign. Turk emphasized the need for a legally binding agreement to ensure the statue’s relocation, asserting that the issue would not be considered resolved until the statue was moved.
The relocation decision signifies a resolution to a contentious debate, reflecting a broader discussion about public art and its placement within community spaces.