back to article New Yorkers react to strikingly indifferent statue of Elon Musk with cheerful hostility

The city of New York received an addition to its trove of often obscure and peculiar statuary when a life-sized polyester resin figure of famously charismatic Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk was unveiled in Downtown Manhattan. The statue, which commemorates Musk's 50th birthday on 28 June and was erected by online stock …

  1. Chris G

    I don't know about 14" miniatures of Elon but a playmobil version would allow El Reg to have some fun.

  2. Potemkine! Silver badge
    Mushroom

    Good to know

    At least we know that "public.com" likes to lick balls.

  3. My-Handle

    Genuine question

    Do you have to ask someone before you can make a statue in their likeness and then sell it?

    Additional question: is the above question valid if the likeness in question is questionable?

    1. Natalie Gritpants Jr

      Re: Genuine question

      Obviously it's satire and so is protected as free speech.

      1. Pascal Monett Silver badge

        Not sure that that argument applies : money is being made off of it.

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Like a comedy impressionist?

        2. Graham Dawson Silver badge

          And? So? Is Spitting Image suddenly illegal because it makes money while satirising anyone remotely famous?

        3. The First Dave
          Headmaster

          being made _ from _ it. FTFY

    2. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

      Re: Genuine question

      "Do you have to ask someone before you can make a statue in their likeness and then sell it?"

      Probably depends on if the subject generally makes money from their own likeness.

    3. ThomH

      Re: Genuine question

      If the subject were Keanu Reeves and the recipient was a movie studio then you could probably be sued for the tort of passing off.

      1. Anonymous Custard
        Trollface

        Re: Genuine question

        Only if it was carved from wood...

  4. disgruntled yank

    Kind of generic

    It looks a little like Bruce Willis, or maybe a little like Benjamin Bradlee, for many years the executive editor of The Washington Post.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    1. Khaptain Silver badge

      Re: It's deffo a winner on Twitter

      After reading the first 50 or so comments in the above link I am saddened to see the level by which Twitter communicate with the world.. It's as though the thread was infested by 8 years old that had just learned to use swear words ..

      Truly saddening to think that these people will become the future adults of society..

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Thumb Up

        Re: It's deffo a winner on Twitter

        > It's as though the thread was infested by 8 years old that had just learned to use swear words ..

        A perfect match for the subject of the thread.

      2. This post has been deleted by its author

  6. adam 40 Silver badge

    Another Slaver gets a Statue

    Well, at least NY is keeping with tradition.

  7. Martin-R

    The High Line

    Skip the statue, but do visit the High Line if you get a chance - it's a 1.5 mile stretch of disused, elevated railway converted into a public park. Great place for a stroll on a warm evening!

  8. Blackjack Silver badge

    Jusy ignore it.

    The best way to hurt an attention seeker is to ignore their existence.

  9. Vulch
    Alien

    So...

    Now we know what the payload will be for the SpaceX Starship orbital test flight...

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Trollface

    If?

    If I buy it will ElReg pay the shipping to have it sent to a NY junkyard to be crushed?

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Oh to be a pigeon

    See title

  12. Roj Blake Silver badge

    Ozymandias

    All that the statue is lacking is an inscription that reads "look on my works ye mighty, and despair"

  13. leeCh

    Suitable for rocket fuel?

    Well if rubber can be used, why not grind up this polyester resin and turn him into a solid fuel booster rocket?

    Although would you still have to put the allergen warning on the outside of such a rocket - "May contain traces of nuts"?

  14. ThatOne Silver badge
    WTF?

    Surprised? Why?

    Come on, he's the new messiah, so it's to be expected that cults will arise and people will try to make a living catering for the devout. Humanity has always been fascinated by its more powerful members, and people have always tried to idolize them in an attempt to bask in their reflected glory.

    This is clearly the case here, as this is a simple publicity stunt, and they needed somebody who would "create the buzz". An approximate statue (probably made by some Public.com manager's "artistically inclined" family member) of a nobody wouldn't create the brand awareness they wanted. Pin his Muskiness' name on it though, and now everybody has heard of "Public.com". Mission accomplished.

  15. Sorry that handle is already taken. Silver badge

    "famously charismatic"

    I can't tell if that's meant to be a joke

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