Controversial 'Forever Marilyn' statue heading for new home, will get facelift
The 26-foot-tall statue will be moved beginning Sunday. The larger than life depiction of Marylin Monroe isn't going far, though. She is being placed less than 100 feet away, out of Museum Way and in the Downtown Park.
'We look forward to 'Forever Marilyn' having a permanent home in Palm Springs so we can reflect on all the positive attention she brings to our community, ' Peggy Trott, Chair of PS Resorts, which owns the statue, said in a news release. 'In 2024 alone, the statue welcomed more than 996,033 visitors. From social media posts to neighborhood group discussions, the outpouring of love for 'Forever Marilyn' has been incredible. It will be wonderful to focus solely on all the happiness she brings to the residents and visitors of Palm Springs moving forward.'
In addition to being moved, the statue will be cleaned and the paint refurbished. The entire operation is expected to end on Feb. 28.
The move is part of a settlement from a lawsuit brought by the Committee to Relocate Marilyn, which objected to the statue's location in the middle of a public street. Some members of the group have also criticized the statue, which depicts Monroe from the 1955 movie "The Seven Year Itch" with her dress blowing up in the wind, as being misogynist.
The lawsuit cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, and nearly $500,000 in additional funds will be spent on the move, which PS Resorts is paying for.
Despite the criticism, PS Resorts said in a news release a 2021 study showed 86% of Palm Springs residents found the statue to be a "fun and free attraction" while 75% agreed the statue would help promote the city around the world.
Monroe is strongly associated with Palm Springs, having been a regular visitor to the city in the 1950s with her husband, Joe DiMaggio.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 'Forever Marilyn' statue in Palm Springs will be moved Sunday. What to know
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