Fans Roast $150K Tina Turner Statue as ‘Hideous and Hilarious’

Tina Turner’s legacy deserves the best—but fans say her new statue is anything but.

The late Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll was honored in her hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee, with a massive 10-foot bronze statue. Instead of applause, though, the tribute’s unveiling sparked gasps and giggles.

Sculpted by Atlanta artist Fred Ajanogha, the $150,000 artwork shows Tina mid-performance in her signature short skirt, heels, and microphone. But online critics say the face looks nothing like her—and that giant puff of hair? One fan said it “looks more Cousin It than Tina Turner.”

Comedian Kevin Fredericks even jumped in on X (formerly Twitter), quipping, “What’s art got to do with it? Who is this? She deserved better!” Another commenter piled on: “This is for someone you hate, not someone you love.”

The statue, funded by roughly 50 donors and placed across from Turner’s alma mater, Carver High School, was meant to celebrate her enduring influence. Instead, it’s joined the hall of fame for botched celebrity tributes—right next to those infamous statues of Lucille Ball, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Dwyane Wade.

“Too much wig, honey,” joked one fan. Others are already calling for a redo: “They need to remove and redo. Whoever’s doing the wax figures at Madame Tussauds should be hired next!”

Two years after Tina’s passing at 83, her fans are standing by one message: She deserved better.