12 Popular People’s Statues That Were Withdrawn for Legit Reasons

While many of the monuments and statues have stood to honor someone, several statues were erected and then destroyed due to certain reasons. For instance, the statue of American Comedian, Bust of Bill Cosby, that stood in Walt Disney World, was taken down due to accusations of sexual assault. 

Let us see other statutes that were removed by people for valid reasons. 

1. Edward Colston

Edward Colston was a philanthropist and English Merchant. His statue was designed by John Cassidy to commemorate his philanthropy. 

It stood there for 125 years until the statue was pushed into Bristol Harbour by demonstrators during the George Floyd protests. On 7th June 2020, his statue was taken down for his involvement in the slave trade. 

2. Leopold II of Belgium

Source = Irishtimes

He was the king of Belgians from 1865 to 1909. A statue of Leopold II of Belgium was erected in Ekeren and was designed by a famous Belgian sculptor Joseph Ducaju. It was placed in 1873 but removed in 2020 for colonist exploitation and other atrocities. 

The statue was removed to the grounds of the Middleheim Open Air Sculpture Museum. He even murdered thousands of Africans. 

3. Saddam Hussein

Source = Newyorker

He was the President of Iraq and a leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party. He also played a vital role in the 1968 coup that brought the party to power in Iraq. 

In 2002, his statue was erected in honor of his 65th birthday. His statue was taken down in 2003 during the invasion of Iraq by the US forces. 

4. Frank Rizzo

Source = Phillymag

Frank Rizzo was a member of the Democratic Party and a strong opponent of desegregation of Philadelphia's schools and prevented the construction of housing in a majority-white neighborhood. 

His statue was erected in 1998 but removed in 2020. The statue was taken down by Black Lives Matter activists and others during George Floyd protests. 

5. Robert E. Lee

Source = Time

Robert E. Lee was an American Confederate. He was well known as a commander of the Confederate States during the American Civil War. His statue was erected in 1884. It measured over 16 feet and stood upon the towering column of marble in the Lee circle. 

This monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 and also as the city’s 11 important statues in June 2011. His statue was removed in 2017 as a part of the removal of four monuments associated with the Confederacy. 

6. Jefferson Davis in Frankfort

Source = Ca-times

He was an Americal politician who served as the President of the Confederate States from 1861 to 1865. He represented Mississippi in the United States Senate and the House of Representatives before the American Civil War. 

His statue was moved on 13th June 2020 due to him being a slave owner. He operated a large cotton plantation in Mississippi, which his brother gave him, and owned over 100 slaves.

7. Jerry Richardson

Source = Abccolumbia

Jerry Richardson is an American businessman, a former owner in the National Football League, and established the Carolina Panthers Franchise. 

He was involved in a controversy that involved the sexist behavior before selling the team. His statue was removed in June 2020 from the fear that it would be destroyed by the protestors.

8. Christopher Columbus

Source = Nyt

Christopher Columbus was an Italian master navigator who opened the way for European exploration and colonization of the Americans. His statue was erected in 1955 and was designed by Edoardo Alfieri outside Columbus, Ohio’s City Hall. 

The statue was the central attraction of the Portman Plaza adjoining West Broad Street. It measured approximately 6.7 × 2.36 × 1.75 m and weighed over 3 tons. Unfortunately, his statue was removed in July 2020 due to his abusive relationship with indigenous Americans. 

9. Frank Rizzo

Source = Npr

Frank Rizzo was a politician and an American police officer. He served as Philadelphia police commissioner from 1968 to 1971. He was a strong opponent of the desegregation of Philadelphia’s school and even prevented the construction of public housing in majority-white neighborhoods. 

His statue was erected in Center City, Philadelphia, and was created by Zenos Frudakis. In 2020, his statute was vandalized in response to the killing of George Floyd. 

10. Joe Paterno

Source = Onwardstate

Joe Paterno was an American college football player and the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1966 to 2011. You would be amazed to know that Joe was the most victorious coach in NCAA FBS history. 

His statue was located on the northeast side of the Beaver Stadium on the campus of the Pennsylvania State University in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, his statue was removed in 2012 after people realized that he was involved in child sex abuse scandals.

11. Michael Jackson

Source = Nme

This might shock you, but people removed Michael Jackson’s statue when he was found guilty of sexual assault allegations. His statue was made from plastic and resin and commissioned by Mohamed Al-Fayed and was unveiled in 2011. 

His statue was removed by chairman Shahid Khan in 2013 and moved to the National Football Museum in 2014. 

12. Kate Smith

Source = Phillyvoice

Kate Smith was an American singer and the First Lady of Radio. She was well-known for her rendition of Irving Berlin’s God Bless America. 

A year after her death, her statue was erected to honor her. But her statue was removed after people realized that her songs contained racist lyrics and sentiments that were incompatible with the values. 

Concluding Words

You must have read about the statues that were taken down due to wrong measurements or other reasons. But these statues were removed because the people they were honored turned out to be the evils. Here are some renowned statues from around the world that attract millions of visitors annually. 

Have you visited or know other statues that were initially celebrated and then removed by people for the right reasons? If so, then share them.