The Forgotten Giants: What Happened to the Michael Jackson HIStory Statues?
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Where Did Michael Jackson’s HIStory Statues Go?
In June 1995, a colossal 32-foot statue of Michael Jackson made headlines as it floated down London’s River Thames. This striking figure was just one of ten massive fibreglass Michael Jackson HIStory statues created to promote the King of Pop’s ambitious album, HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I. These statues were part of a marketing campaign unlike any other—monuments that followed Jackson across the globe, becoming symbols of his pop legacy.
Now, nearly 30 years later, fans and curious onlookers alike wonder: Where are these giant statues now?
The Origins of the HIStory Statues
The HIStory album was not only a musical compilation but a visual spectacle. With hits like Earth Song and Scream, Michael Jackson was redefining his narrative post-1993 controversies.
To promote the album, Jackson collaborated with sculptor Diana Walczak, who created a detailed clay model of the pop icon. However, the ten larger-than-life fibreglass statues were modeled separately by UK-based artist Stephen Pyle and his team at Elstree Studios. Working without Walczak’s prototype, their versions had slight differences, but captured Jackson’s unmistakable stance—arms crossed, chest forward, eyes to the horizon.
Statues Around the World: Where They Are Today
1. The Netherlands: A Fast Food Landmark Turned Shrine
One statue stood proudly outside a McDonald’s in Best, Netherlands, purchased by owner Peter Van Gelder in 1996. It quickly became a pilgrimage site for Jackson fans. However, following the 2019 Leaving Neverland documentary, corporate pressure from McDonald’s USA led to its removal. Today, it rests covered in storage, awaiting a new home.
2. Austria: From Nightclub Star to Storage Burden
A second statue found a unique residence in the courtyard of The Baby’O, a nightclub in Judenau-Baumgarten, Austria. Purchased at a charity auction by owner Franz Josef Zika, it drew attention and added flair to the club’s outdoor area. But with the venue now closed, Zika has been trying to sell the statue—asking €25,000, though buyers remain elusive.
3. Switzerland: The Silent Luna Park Guardian
At Lausanne’s Luna Park, another Jackson statue once stood tall during annual fair events. It was purchased in 2008 and later repainted with golden accents. Although it hasn’t been seen in public for years, organizers confirmed it still exists—safely kept away from controversy and still not for sale.
4. South Africa: A Giant in a Miniature World
Johannesburg’s abandoned Santarama Miniland oddly features one of the statues, repainted in hues of grey-blue. Originally brought to South Africa during Jackson’s HIStory tour, it now remains as a surreal relic in a park designed to showcase miniature landmarks.
5. Italy: Restored but For Sale
Europark Idroscalo Milano unveiled their restored statue in 2019 during a fan-led flash mob tribute. Repainted and even given new sunglasses, it was renamed the “MJ Italian Memorial Place.” However, despite its fresh look, the park has now listed the statue for sale, citing changing priorities and public opinion.
Michael Jackson’s Legacy in Stone and Fibreglass
These Michael Jackson HIStory statues tell a larger story—not just about fandom and global marketing, but about how public perception of celebrities can shift over time. Once symbols of artistic dominance, some of these statues now sit in sheds, warehouses, or forgotten corners of the world, caught between adoration and controversy.
As debates over Jackson’s legacy continue, these fibreglass giants stand—or lie hidden—as powerful reminders of pop culture’s ability to immortalize, and just as quickly, sideline its heroes.
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