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In June 1995, a massive **Michael Jackson statue** created a striking visual in London, floating down the River Thames on a barge. As a promotional spectacle for his album *HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I*, this fiberglass titan was one of ten such statues erected globally. These **HIStory statues**, standing at 32ft (10m), accompanied Jackson on his world tour. Three decades later, the pop icon’s legacy remains controversial, yet some of these monumental tributes still stand in unexpected locations around the world.
The Making of a Pop Culture Monolith
Jackson’s double album fused his greatest hits with 15 fresh tracks, including “Earth Song,” a chart-topper in the UK for six weeks. In the US, sculptor Diana Walczak collaborated with Jackson on a clay sculpture, digitally scanned for the album’s cover. Stephen Pyle, a Hertfordshire artist known for set designs in global productions of *The Phantom of the Opera*, was commissioned by a Sony employee to create ten giant **Michael Jackson statues** inspired by the album art.
From Concept to Creation
Pyle enlisted sculptor Derek Howarth to fashion the statues from polystyrene sections, which he then used to fabricate molds and fiberglass casts. Chris and Liz Clark’s workshop at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire became the assembly point, where the statues were painted to resemble stone. The team operated without Walczak’s original prototype, resulting in slight variations among the statues.
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Pyle noted, “Producing ten statues in four months was a challenge. However, with the help of Derek, Chris, Liz, and the rest of my team, we became an efficient factory for **Michael Jackson monoliths**!”
While the current status of some statues remains unclear, possibly stored away or destroyed, others endure in peculiar locations.
Where the Statues Reside Today
A Former McDonald’s Location in the Netherlands
For several years, one of these **Michael Jackson** tributes stood prominently in the parking area of a McDonald’s in Best, Netherlands. Restaurant owner Peter Van Gelder acquired the statue from Sony at a 1996 charity gala benefiting the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund.
“The restaurant had recently opened and lacked a large ‘M’,” he explained. “My goal was to use it as an eye-catching landmark.”
Fans soon gathered to photograph the statue and play Jackson’s music, leading Van Gelder to fence it off due to frequent climbing.
- On Jackson’s birthday and death anniversary, the site became a gathering point for memorial displays.
- Fans would visit to honor the King of Pop.
Removal After Controversy
The atmosphere shifted in 2019 following HBO’s *Leaving Neverland* documentary, which renewed allegations against Jackson.
Van Gelder stated, “There wasn’t a strong reaction in the Netherlands, and I intended to keep the statue.”
However, pressure from McDonald’s US headquarters led to its removal and placement in a concealed location.
McDonald’s stated, “Following the documentary in 2019, the decision was made to remove the statue.
“We believe it’s vital for all our guests to feel at ease when they visit our restaurants.”
Van Gelder aims to donate the statue to a dedicated fan club. “Many have contacted me, but none have obtained the required permit,” he noted.
“Interest in the statue is diminishing… So, the **Michael Jackson statue** rests under a tarp in a humble shed.”
An Austrian Nightclub’s Unusual Decor
An abandoned club courtyard, located 18 miles (30km) west of Vienna, is an unexpected spot for a **King of Pop statue**. Franz Josef Zika, the owner, won it at a 1998 Red Cross radio charity auction for 150,000 Austrian Schillings (£9,300).
Zika remembers his uncle’s reaction: “You’re crazy!”
Visitors to The Baby’O in Judenau-Baumgarten were surprised to find **Michael Jackson** in the smoking zone, but Zika saw it as a promotional stunt.
“There were bars nearby, which created a party around the statue,” he added.
The club closed last year due to a new residential building nearby. Zika now seeks to sell the statue, hoping for €25,000 (£21,000). Offers came from Sweden and Hungary, but financial constraints hindered the transaction. Should he fail to find a buyer, Zika jokes about sending the statue to Mars with Elon Musk’s help.
A Swiss Fairground Attraction
Luna Park, an annual fairground in Lausanne, Switzerland, has featured a **Michael Jackson statue** for over 50 years. Updated with gold paint on its faux military uniform, the statue was bought in 2008 from an earlier Sony purchaser. While it has not been shown in recent years, organizers insist it is not for sale.
South Africa’s Forgotten Miniland
When Jackson’s HIStory tour touched down in South Africa, one of the ten statues came along. Santarama Miniland, a Johannesburg park showcasing South Africa in miniature since the 1970s, is now closed. Although attractions and trains are gone, a repainted **MJ statue** remains visible on Google Earth, a testament to the King’s enduring image.
Blogger Heather Mason of 2summers.net, who visited in 2013, found the statue surreal. It was a “giant blue **Michael Jackson statue** in the midst of Miniland, where everything is supposed to be smaller than life. However, the **MJ statue** definitely made for the best photo opportunity in the park.”
Europark Idroscalo Milano in Italy
A fresh coat of paint and new sunglasses have not fully disguised a **fiberglass statue** at Europark Idroscalo Milano. In June 2019, the “restored” statue was revealed following a **Michael Jackson**-themed flash mob, months after *Leaving Neverland* debuted.
A spokesperson stated that the statue was acquired after the tour, remaining abandoned for years before finding its way to the park. Originally, it had its face covered following child abuse claims; park owners decided “not to show that MJ welcomed children.”
Despite efforts to restore the statue, the park owners are selling the refurbished piece.