Kevin Hart Demands Redo After Botched Wax Figure Unveiled in Tennessee
While some celebrity wax figures achieve astonishing realism, prompting fans to do a double take, others spectacularly miss the mark, leaving audiences worldwide horrified. Over the years, numerous waxworks have borne little resemblance to the stars they were meant to depict, with the latest victim being comedian Kevin Hart.
Hart took to Instagram earlier this week to roast his new statue, recently unveiled at the Hollywood Wax Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In a video shared online, he described the figure as an 'attack' and demanded a redo in his caption.
'WTF... What did I do to these people... This is an attack,' he wrote. 'Who in the f**k is this? At this point these museums are just trying to make me cry... This s**t has to stop… I demand a redo.'
Hart is far from alone in receiving a wax figure that fails to do justice to his likeness. From Beyoncé to Nicole Kidman, here are the most wildly inaccurate and often terrifying celebrity statues over the years.
Beyoncé's Whitewashing Controversy and Backlash
In February 2024, Madame Tussauds in Blackpool, England, unveiled a new wax statue of Beyoncé, sparking immediate and fierce criticism. Angry fans flocked to X, formerly Twitter, to condemn the museum's attempt at creating a life-size replica of the 35-time Grammy winner, insisting it looked nothing like her.
'Don't get me wrong, the wax figure is pretty, but baby that ain't Beyonce,' one user wrote. 'I need them to go get an actual picture of her or bring her there while y'all are making it.'
The figure depicted the Single Ladies songstress in a sparkly bodysuit with long, beachy curls. This was not the first controversy; in 2017, a different wax figure of Beyoncé was pulled after widespread claims it appeared 'whitewashed.' After brief adjustments, it returned with alterations to better match her skin tone.
Madame Tussauds in New York released a statement at the time: 'We love, respect, and enjoy a working relationship with Beyoncé... We have adjusted the styling and lighting of her figure, and she is [back] on display.'
Nicki Minaj's Las Vegas Figure Sparks Disbelief
In 2015, fans were left in disbelief when Madame Tussauds in Las Vegas added a Nicki Minaj wax figure to its collection. Designed to replicate her look from the 2014 Anaconda music video, it featured a racy chain bra and tiny black shorts.
Many felt it did not resemble the rapper, leading to social media roasting. Interestingly, Minaj herself seemed pleased, gushing on Instagram: 'Yo WTF?! Had no idea they were really doing this. I would've went to Vegas for this.'
Sources told TMZ that Minaj's team collaborated on the project, with her signing off before its public debut. The creation reportedly involved over 20 craftspeople and six months of work.
Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber's Missed Marks
Ariana Grande fans were baffled in May 2019 when Madame Tussauds in London unveiled a new wax figure. While it sported her iconic high ponytail, oversized sweater, and thigh-high boots, the face was widely criticized.
'Y'all need to melt her face and start [over] because this ain't it,' one user wrote, while another questioned, 'Are you sure this is Ariana?'
Justin Bieber also faced wax figure woes. A statue displayed at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood in the early 2010s left people scratching their heads due to overly shiny skin, unrealistic eyes, and an off expression. It was later replaced by a more realistic version.
Meryl Streep, Naomi Campbell, and Nicole Kidman's Terrifying Tributes
The Hollywood Madame Tussauds location faced scrutiny in 2017 with a redecorated wax statue of Meryl Streep. Dressed in a gold gown similar to her 2012 Academy Awards attire, it was branded 'nothing short of terrifying' and 'creepy' online.
Naomi Campbell's wax figure at the Musée Grévin in Paris, created in 2005, was nightmare-inducing with awkward posture, wax-like skin, and widened eyes. A new, more accurate version was made in 2014.
In Madrid, Spain, a 2012 wax figure of Nicole Kidman for an Oscars Red Carpet exhibition was completely off. Dressed in a salmon turtleneck dress with soft waves, the face was unrecognizable, leaving many unaware it was meant to be Kidman.
Britney Spears' Pole-Dancing Statue Retired
A Britney Spears waxwork introduced at Madame Tussauds London in October 2003 depicted her in an outfit resembling her iconic 2001 VMAs performance, standing on a pole with hair dangling. It was retired in 2009 and replaced, with the museum stating: 'She's undergone a huge transformation since then and we wanted to reflect her as she is now.'
These botched wax figures highlight the challenges museums face in capturing celebrity likenesses, often resulting in public ridicule and demands for redos from the stars themselves.
