**From their grand unveilings to their uncertain futures, discover what happened to these pop culture relics that captured the essence of the King of Pop.**
**Where Are the Iconic Michael Jackson Statues Now? A Look Back 30 Years Later**
**Where Are the Iconic Michael Jackson Statues Now? A Look Back 30 Years Later**
**This article explores the fate of the giant statues of Michael Jackson that were created to promote his HIStory album.**
In June 1995, Michael Jackson fans were treated to a unique sight: a towering 32-foot statue of the pop icon on a barge floating down the River Thames, part of a worldwide promotional campaign for his double album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. These striking fibreglass statues were not only intended to celebrate the King of Pop but also to accompany him on his extensive global tour.
Fast-forward thirty years, and the fate of these iconic statues is as diverse as Jackson's legacy itself. Some have remained as unexpected landmarks, while others have entered obscurity. During the creation of these giant effigies, artist Stephen Pyle collaborated with sculptor Derek Howarth, using Jackson's likeness for the statue molds. Over four months, ten statues were meticulously crafted at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire.
One of the most famous of these statues was long displayed outside a McDonald's in the Netherlands, purchased by restaurant owner Peter Van Gelder at a charity auction. The statue became a community hotspot, especially on significant dates in Jackson's life. However, after the airing of the controversial documentary "Leaving Neverland" in 2019, McDonald's removed the statue, citing the need for all customers to feel comfortable. The statue remains in storage, with Van Gelder hoping for a fan club to take it but facing difficulties in securing a permit for display.
In Austria, one statue ended up in the now-defunct Baby'O nightclub, purchased by owner Franz Josef Zika in 1998 at a charity auction. Zika found the statue a great promotional tool until the establishment closed last year due to new residential development. He has since attempted to sell the statue but runs into challenges with potential buyers.
Another statue was spotted in a Swiss fairground, where it remains unused despite undergoing a refurbishment. Meanwhile, Johannesburg's Santarama Miniland still houses a repainted statue from Jackson's HIStory tour, even as the theme park falls into disrepair. A similar situation arises with a CGI-enhanced version of the statue in Italy's Europark Milano, which was restored in 2019 but is currently up for sale.
With the fate of these statues intertwined with the public's perception of Jackson's legacy, their future remains a reflection of the complicated relationship society holds with one of music's most significant figures. As some statues gather dust in storage or rest beneath tarps, others quietly persist, standing as testaments to a unique time in pop culture history.
