The new statue in Times Square is named Grounded in the Stars. The puropse of it, according to it's creator Thomas J Price, is to be a "stark contrast" to two statues in Duffy Square of Father Francis Duffy and George M. Cohan, and a way of "disrupting traditional ideas" of what a "triumphant figure" is.

"In a culture that increasingly encourages a faster pace, Grounded in the Stars is an introspective meditation on humanity," the artist's website states, claiming the statue should "instigate meaningful connections and bind into an emotional state that allow for deeper reflection around the Human condition and greater cultural diversity."

How does this statue erected in time square "confront preconceived notions of identity and representation"

It's just some obnoxious looking overweight black woman, it's reinforcing those preconceived notions. pic.twitter.com/LejvmBxnUH

— AlphaFo???? (@Alphafox78) May 7, 2025

The Roosevelt and Jefferson statues were removed last year. After all, what did they ever do in contrast with this overweight fictional woman whose nipples are showing through her baggy t-shirt?

Random fat black woman statue in NYC ?
Thomas Jefferson statue in NYC ??
Teddy Roosevelt statue in NYC ?? pic.twitter.com/rdKPatzh0k

— m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) May 7, 2025

Is this supposed to champion black women?

How about something that looks less like someone complaining their "order wasn't right"?

— The CEO Guy (@The_ceo_guy) May 7, 2025

This is a fictional black woman.

A fat, sloppy, slouchily dressed, black woman.

Couldn't even find an ACTUAL black woman to represent.

No Harriet Tubman.
No Daisy Bates.
No Maya Angelou.

Just a fat fucking black woman.

Are people ok with this?? pic.twitter.com/JAnZUU7tyi

— Amiri King (@AmiriKing) May 7, 2025

If I was black I'd be pissed. So this is supposed to represent black women? Obese and cheap with Walmart clothes? ????????‍??

— Cynical Latina (@CynicalLatina) May 7, 2025