New York City has triggered a firestorm after unveiling a new 12-foot bronze statue of an “overweight black woman” in Times Square — just a few years after tearing down a historic statue of Founding Father Thomas Jefferson.
The new sculpture, titled Grounded in the Stars by British artist Thomas J. Price, was introduced this week as part of what organizers call a “two-part takeover” aimed at promoting “traditionally marginalized bodies” on a monumental scale. The exhibit also includes Price’s Man Series, which will appear on digital billboards each night in May.
But the reception hasn’t exactly been celebratory.
“This isn’t art. It’s a political statement masquerading as public sculpture,” one critic wrote. “It’s designed not to inspire but to provoke, to tear down historical memory in favor of cultural grievance.”
Jefferson Out, ‘Cultural Confrontation’ In
The backlash stems largely from the contrast between this installation and the 2021 removal of a statue of Thomas Jefferson from New York City Hall. At the time, progressive council members argued that Jefferson’s ownership of slaves outweighed his contributions to liberty and the founding of the United States.
Now, critics argue the city has replaced an actual historical icon with what many see as a tokenized, agenda-driven installation. “We’re replacing greatness with grievance,” wrote one X user. “What next? Statues of TikTok influencers?”
Even the Times Square Arts association admitted the piece is designed to challenge existing nearby monuments — namely, statues of World War I hero Father Francis Duffy and Broadway legend George Cohan, both of whom represent, in the group’s words, “white men on pedestals.”
The woman in the Price sculpture is anonymous and meant to represent inclusivity and “cultural diversity,” with the artist stating, “I hope Grounded in the Stars instigates meaningful reflection around the human condition.”
Public Backlash: ‘This Isn’t Public Art’
Reaction online was swift and scathing.
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh slammed the decision as part of a broader leftist pattern: “They tear down statues of American heroes and replace them with statues of random obese black women,” he wrote. “That’s because the Left has no historical heroes.”
Another viral post added, “NYC just replaced Jefferson with a faceless mascot. A society ashamed of its history has no future.”
Trump Steps In: Monuments May Be Coming Back
In response to the broader trend of statue removals, President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to review and potentially restore monuments removed over the past five years.
The White House said the directive is about correcting “false revisions of history” that downplay or demonize key historical figures. One section of the order calls out efforts that “disparage certain historical figures or events” and says the federal government should act to preserve the full story of the American experience — even when it’s complicated.
If implemented fully, the order could lead to the reinstallation of dozens of statues taken down during the summer 2020 riots and beyond, including Jefferson’s.
The Bottom Line
The Times Square statue may have been intended as a message of inclusivity — but for millions of Americans, it’s another reminder that the cultural left is more interested in erasing history than understanding it.
With Trump now pushing to bring back America’s monuments, the battle over public memory is just getting started.
