Musée Grévin Responds to Controversy Surrounding Dwayne Johnson Wax Figure

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ICARO Media Group
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25/10/2023 23h35

In response to the recent controversy surrounding the unveiling of a Dwayne Johnson wax figure, Musée Grévin, the Parisian museum responsible for the creation, has issued a statement and taken immediate action to address the concerns raised by critics.

Last week, the museum unveiled the wax figure of the popular actor, but it faced swift backlash over the depiction of Dwayne Johnson, who is Samoan and Black, with a complexion lighter than his actual skin tone. Comedian James Andre Jefferson Jr. was among those who criticized the figure, uploading a video to Instagram to express his discontent. The video caught the attention of Dwayne himself, who shared it on his own Instagram page, adding a lighthearted comment about updating his wax figure.

On Tuesday, Musée Grévin responded to the controversy by uploading a video to Instagram featuring Yves Delhommeau, the museum's managing director. In the video, Delhommeau acknowledged the criticism, stating, "A week ago, we unveiled Dwayne Johnson's waxwork, and we got a big surprise when we put him under the lights. His skin tone seemed too pale." He further expressed the museum's realization that they may have made an error in the depiction of the actor.

According to Delhommeau, the museum's team meticulously worked on the figure's appearance, including the painting of Samoan tattoos, which took 10 days to complete. However, the museum acknowledged the challenge of accurately capturing Dwayne Johnson's skin tone due to variations in lighting and photographs. The museum emphasized that the creation of wax figures is a complex process, comparing it to oil painting.

Musée Grévin has taken immediate action to rectify the situation. Delhommeau announced in the video that the museum will be working on improving the wax figure to better represent the actor. A photo released on Tuesday showcased an employee working on updating the figure, indicating that progress has already been made.

Variety reported on Wednesday that the wax figure has indeed been updated. Veronique Berecz, Musée Grévin's head of PR, expressed satisfaction with Dwayne Johnson's friendly reaction to the situation. She explained that the museum's use of various photos resulted in discrepancies in the depiction of his skin tone, but they corrected it promptly upon realizing the public's concerns.

Berecz also dismissed accusations of "whitewashing," attributing the mistake to an honest error based on the photos they had viewed. She affirmed that the museum's immediate action in response to public feedback demonstrates their genuine commitment to representing the actor more accurately.

As of now, Dwayne Johnson's updated wax figure has been unveiled, and Musée Grévin eagerly anticipates the actor's visit to Paris, expressing a desire to have a drink with him at the museum.

BuzzFeed has reached out to Dwayne Johnson's representatives for a comment on Musée Grévin's response, but no response has been received at the time of writing.

In conclusion, Musée Grévin has acknowledged and swiftly addressed the controversy surrounding the Dwayne Johnson wax figure, demonstrating a commitment to accurately representing the actor. The museum's efforts to rectify the situation by updating the figure reflect their responsiveness to public feedback and commitment to representing diverse figures accurately in the future.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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