Madame Tussauds appeared to have axed a controversial Beyonce replica which fans complained looked nothing like the star.
The New York Times reported that the wax figure of the 35-year-old singer was absent from the museum’s New York branch on Thursday.
All of the Beyoncé Wax Figures barely look like her. They need to put a Beyhive member in charge
— Stephanie. (@qsteph) July 21, 2017
However, a spokeswoman for Madame Tussauds told the Press Association that Bey’s figure had simply retreated for a restyling and lighting adjustment.
“We love, respect and enjoy a working relationship with Beyonce. We have adjusted the styling and lighting of the figure and she is on display at Madame Tussauds,” she said.
There was a furore among social media users earlier this week, as the celebrity wax-figure museum unveiled the return of Queen Bey, following her stint at the Orlando branch.
It seems Madame Tussauds received the message loud and clear, as the sculpture took a brief break from the spotlight later in the week.
That’s Cristina Aguilera https://t.co/zxgyeSoGIA
— yc (@yc) July 18, 2017
Lindsay Lohan stars in Lifetime’s “Sasha Fierce: A Child Of Destiny” this fall. https://t.co/GU8q4BJPmN
— Kno (@Kno) July 18, 2017
Joss Stone https://t.co/E6tAp7IxDZ
— Trill Withers (@TylerIAm) July 19, 2017
Hello, @MadameTussauds! I was just wondering if you could tell me who this is? Is it…Haylie Duff? https://t.co/kH6QYO0TJz
— Ashley C. Ford (@iSmashFizzle) July 18, 2017
or shakira? where is her melanin.
— Kaneischa Johnson (@SceneSister) July 19, 2017
Beyond the skin tone – that’s not her face. Where’s her hips? What’s happening here?
— Queen Quay (@quaymorris) July 19, 2017
The tweet which sparked the controversy, posted on account @nycwax – the official account of Madame Tussauds New York – was also removed. It had read: “@Beyonce is back and “Running the world” here in @nycwax! Be sure to come by and see her before she leaves in September! #FamousFun.”
Earlier this week, a spokeswoman for Madame Tussauds said a combination of lighting and flash photography could be to blame for the original replica’s lighter complexion.
She said: “At Madame Tussauds, our talented team of sculptors take every effort to ensure we accurately colour match all of our wax figures to the celebrity being depicted.
“Lighting within the attraction combined with flash photography may distort and misrepresent the colour of our wax figures which is something our sculptors are unable to account for at the production stage.”
