Queen Elizabeth II statue sparks backlash, critics say it misses the mark

Lauren Taylor

A NEWLY UNVEILED STATUE OF THE LATE QUEEN ELIZABETH II IS SPARKING CONTROVERSY.WHILE OFFICIALS IN NORTHERN IRELAND DESCRIBED THE BRONZE STATUE AS CAPTURING THE QUEEN’S GRACE AND DEDICATION, REACTIONS ONLINE WERE ANYTHING BUT FLATTERING. 

THE STATUE, CREATED BY ARTIST ANTO BRENNAN, STANDS ALONGSIDE PRINCE PHILIP AND THEIR CORGIS IN ANTRIM CASTLE GARDENS. BRENNAN IS KNOWN FOR HIS POLITICAL CARICATURE WORK, AND SOME FEEL HIS STYLE DIDN’T TRANSLATE WELL IN THIS TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MONARCH. 

SOME COMPARED THE STATUE TO MISSES DOUBTFIRE, WHILE ONE CRITIC SUGGESTED IT SHOULD BE “REMOVED AND MELTED DOWN.”

EVEN BRITISH ART HISTORIAN RICHARD MORRIS CALLED IT A “VERY POOR REPRESENTATION,” SAYING HE COULDN’T IDENTIFY THE QUEEN UNTIL READING THE PLAQUE.

WITH SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS TURNING HOSTILE, COMMENTS WERE ACTUALLY TURNED OFF ON THE OFFICIAL POST ABOUT THE STATUE. 

THE LOCAL COUNCIL IS STANDING BY THE STATUE. IN A STATEMENT, THEY SAY IT’S BEING “WARMLY RECEIVED BY MOST WHO HAVE SEEN IT IN PERSON.” THEY’RE NOW ENCOURAGING VISITORS TO SEE IT FOR THEMSELVES.

I’M LAUREN TAYLOR. FOR ALL YOUR LATEST NEWS HEADLINES – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP TODAY.