New York City Unveils Controversial Statue in Times Square

In April, a new statue was unveiled in Times Square—a towering 12-foot bronze figure called “It’s Grounded to the Star.” It portrays an average, overweight, anonymous Black woman casually standing with her hands on her hips. The artist, Thomas J. Price, aimed to challenge conventional ideas about who should be celebrated with monumental art, stirring conversations about marginalized identities and societal biases.

And, well, reactions were mixed—many people reacted negatively, finding the statue unappealing or even laughable, regardless of their background.

Despite this backlash, it seems the city hasn’t quite grasped that locals are fed up with questionable artistic choices. The same month, officials introduced another odd piece: a 10-foot fountain designed to resemble pink feet and legs, complete with red lips and tongues—it gives off a rather bizarre vibe, almost reminiscent of illness. Artist Mika Rottenberg described it as a playful take on traditional fountain designs.

On “The Rick Burgess Show,” the hosts shared their thoughts after visiting the city. They were also struck by the quirky fountain during an anniversary trip, with one host playing a video clip showcasing it.

Rick pointed out something unusual about the fountain’s design, jokingly urging viewers to focus on the toes. He noted, amusingly, how folks attending the Pride Parade seemed to be drawn to it, possibly unaware of the somewhat cheeky intention behind it.

“I think a lot of people just overlooked the feet,” he chuckled. “Not to disappoint anyone—it’s really about the feet.”

Adler added, “There are definitely some strange elements happening here.”

For more discussions and to watch the fountain clip, check out the video above.