Palm Springs Marilyn Monroe statue controversy reignites over road closure

The Forever Marilyn statue by Seward Johnson, installed outside the Palm Springs Art Museum in 2021, has sparked renewed controversy. Originally criticized as vulgar and sexist after its $1 million purchase by PS Resorts in 2021, the current debate centers on traffic disruption caused by the closure of Palm Canyon Drive, the city's main tourist thoroughfare. The Committee to Relocate Marilyn (CREMA), backed by local residents including designer Trina Turk and collector Chris Menrad, is pushing for the statue's removal. The 26-foot-tall sculpture depicts Marilyn Monroe's iconic skirt-blowing scene from Billy Wilder's 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. Critics question whether a road should be closed for years to host a public artwork and whether the statue objectifies women. The debate over the controversial piece continues unresolved.