A Bold New Statue Ignites Public Outrage in the Heart of New York

Times Square is no stranger to attention-grabbing displays—but this time, the buzz isn’t about flashing lights or Broadway billboards. It’s about a 12-foot-tall bronze woman, standing firmly on Broadway and 46th Street, staring down the chaos around her with a quiet, commanding presence. Her name? Grounded in the Stars. Her mission? To spark empathy and challenge conventional views of public monuments.

But instead of inspiring admiration, the statue has ignited a cultural firestorm—and Americans are sounding off in every direction.

Who Created the Statue, and What Was the Intent?

British artist Thomas J Price, known for sculpting fictional characters that reflect real emotions, designed the statue. His goal, according to his own description, was to offer an “introspective meditation on humanity.” In a city of towering ambition and relentless speed, Grounded in the Stars was meant to stand as a moment of stillness and reflection.

She wears simple clothes—pants, a T-shirt—and has braided hair. Her expression is firm, almost unreadable, yet Price says her pose reflects “quiet strength” and even likens it to Michelangelo’s David. She’s not a celebrity or historical figure. She’s a symbol—one that, Price claims, represents everyday people, especially those historically left out of mainstream monuments.

Video: 12-foot bronze statue of overweight Black woman unveiled in ‘takeover’ of Times Sqaure #ny #news #us

Times Square Meets a Different Kind of Hero

Placed near tributes to military chaplain Father Duffy and entertainer George M. Cohan, the statue was designed to stand in contrast. Unlike those heroic figures carved in marble and bronze, Price’s creation doesn’t wear a uniform or hold a flag. She stands with her hands on her hips—powerful, grounded, and, in the artist’s words, “relatable.”

But not everyone sees it that way.

Social Media Reactions: Mockery and Outrage Online

The internet wasted no time in weighing in—and it wasn’t pretty. On X (formerly Twitter), reactions flooded in by the minute. Critics ripped apart both the statue’s design and its message.

One user wrote, “It’s just an obnoxious overweight woman. Isn’t that reinforcing the stereotype, not challenging it?”
Another said, “She looks like someone complaining that her fast-food order was wrong.”

Some called it a parody of empowerment. Others claimed it looked more like Queen Latifah “with an attitude” than a statue meant to convey dignity and strength. And several pointed out the irony that a sculpture meant to challenge bias was, in their eyes, doubling down on tired tropes.

Why Are People So Upset?

Here’s the thing: representation is a tricky subject. For every person who sees the statue as a fresh symbol of inclusion, there’s another who views it as forced messaging. The statue’s fictional nature also drew heat. Why, many asked, would we immortalize someone who never existed instead of honoring real achievements?

Some felt the piece celebrates presence over purpose—that it’s more about optics than substance. Others questioned whether this statue truly challenges norms or just checks boxes.

Video: Why Is Times Square’s Newest Statue An Overweight Black Woman?

The Artist Responds to the Controversy

Price has stood by his work amid the backlash. He insists that Grounded in the Stars is about empathy, diversity, and connection. He says Times Square, with its massive foot traffic and global visibility, is the perfect place to prompt these kinds of conversations.

For Price, the goal isn’t to please everyone—it’s to reflect a broader human experience. Through fictional figures, he hopes to trigger real emotional responses, building a “material and emotional landscape” in urban settings.

Is This the Future of Public Monuments?

Whether you love it or hate it, this statue is part of a growing trend in public art—one that values introspection and social commentary over traditional hero worship. For generations, monuments have mostly focused on military figures, politicians, and historical icons. But as society shifts, so too does the art we display in our public spaces.

Grounded in the Stars challenges that tradition. It asks viewers to find meaning in the mundane, to recognize strength in stillness, and to expand their definition of what a hero looks like. But are Americans ready for that shift? Based on the backlash, the answer might be: not quite yet.

A Temporary Installation, A Lasting Conversation

The statue will remain on display until June 17, 2025. That may not be a long time, but the impact it’s having in just a few weeks is undeniable. It’s sparking intense debates about identity, art, body image, and cultural messaging—all in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in the world.

Some see the statue as a bold and necessary move toward inclusion. Others see it as heavy-handed and tone-deaf. But either way, it’s got people talking—and that, in itself, might be exactly what the artist intended.

Conclusion

Grounded in the Stars may not be the kind of monument most people expected to see in Times Square. It’s not heroic in the traditional sense. It’s not grand or glamorous. But it is a statement—and it’s forcing people to pause, react, and reflect.

In a world where art often fades into the background, this statue stands tall—literally and figuratively. Whether it’s remembered as a breakthrough in inclusive design or just a brief cultural flashpoint, one thing’s for sure: it’s left its mark on the city, and the conversation around it isn’t ending anytime soon.