Egyptian Marilyn Monroe statue criticized on social media

CAIRO – 20 June 2017: A statue of the likeness of legendary Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe, displayed outside the Cairo Opera House, has provoked a slew of mocking comments on social media.

The statue was erected as a tribute to the ”Marilyn Forever” statue in the US and displayed as part of an exhibition for Egyptian sculptor Ehab el Assyouty.

Pictures of the statue spread like wildfire on social media after the opening of the exhibition on Sunday June 11, with numerous comments about the statue describing it as an “ugly” imitation of the real one.

The derisive comments began with another Egyptian sculptor, Ehab Darwish, who posted a picture of the statue online with the incredulous declaration that “this disaster is in the Cairo Opera House, beside the museum of modern art!”



One commenter posted on twitter that “this is the first pornographic statue in Egypt.”





A girl shared the statue’s photo, commenting that ”I think he forgot the pizza in the oven, Marilyn is burnt.”




“I’m very satisfied with my artwork, although there are some carving errors, but they don’t reduce its quality” said sculptor Ehab El Assyouty to Al Wattan newspaper on Tuesday. Al Assyouty added that the statue, which is 3 meters high and priced at 7000 EGP, was commissioned to be displayed in a tourist village. The village’s owner didn’t pay for it, so Ehab decided to use it in his exhibition.

“I refuse the hard criticism for my statue, and it’s my point of view,” Al Assyouty remarked about the criticism on social media, asserting that only sculpture experts have the right to criticize the art, not the public.

“Forever Marilyn,” is an oversized statue of Marilyn Monroe created by Seward Johnson, the Desert Sun reported. The statue is a representation of one of the most famous images of Monroe, taken from the 1955 film “The Seven Year Itch.” Created in July 2011, the statue has been displayed in a number of locations in the United States as well as in Australia.

The Egyptian edition of the statue recalls other “ugly” public sculptures made to portray important characters in Egyptian history.

We can’t forget the statue of Queen Nefertiti, since removed from Samalut, Minya governorate.






Or the green Ahmed Orabi Statue in Zaqaziq that became a laughing stock.






Finally, the Mermaid Statue in Safaga governorate was another that provoked public ridicule, as people asked, “where is the mermaid?”


Mermaid Statue in Safaga governorate - File photo


“We’re not really sure what was happening with this sculpture in Safaga. But people on social media started to call the square it’s in Midan Safinaz. We like to think she bears a resemblance to the woman on Starbucks logo? Maybe?” Identity magazine reported.