Butter sculptures have been a popular part of the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines since 1911. A life size Butter Cow is always displayed, but sculptors normally build another display. Fair goers like to rally around glass-enclosed displays to watch the artists at work. Past works have included sculptures of Elvis Pressley, Tiger Woods, Harry Potter, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper", John Wayne, Jesus Christ, and His Apostles. This year's display will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the moon landing.
They were going to build a sculpture displaying Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk, but way too many complaints kept coming in. Fair staff originally announced plans for a Michael Jackson sculpture immediately after his death on June 25th, but that is when the complaints began and would not stop.
Kent Lehs, manager with Midwest Dairy Association which sponsors the displays, said it was not a question of Jackson's achievements that intrigued all these complaints. He said, "They were pointed toward what they felt they understood Michael Jackson's reputation was and not as a singer and dancer, but more some of the things he was implicated on in his personal life." He was mainly referring to when Jackson was accused of child molestation back in 1993 and was acquitted of child molestation charges in a separate case in 2003.
Complaints kept coming, so they decided to put it to an online vote. Fair speokeswoman Lori Chappell said more than 100,000 votes were cast and 65% of them rejected the Michael Jackson sculpture. Voters were asked to include their ZIP codes and 97% of them were from Iowa.
Susan Pratt, the 155 year old fair's fourth butter sculptor, is expected to begin he work later this month to be ready by August 13th, when the fair opens.
www.examiner.com/category-michael_jackson.html
Comments
Aw. Too bad.
Iowa voted for obama, can't say they are not opened minded people
I can't believe there are still so many ignorant people in the world (apparently most of them living in Iowa). They don't deserve to have anything to do with THE KING OF POP (who by the way was cleared of all charges)!
LONG LIVE THE KING OF POP!
The Capital of Polygamy?
very sad. i wonder how ignorant these people are. MJ was an international icon who broke barriers and reached at the farthest corners of world, right in people's hearts. but sadly these sick people give more importance to his personal life rather than his art which made him world's greatest artist ever.
I thought in this country you were innocent unless proven guilty. Michael was proven innocent.
There is a major poll running over at www.tinyurl.com/evilgood as to whether Michael Jackson was good or evil. Evil is currently in the lead! I think this poll is being recorded in some sort of record book, anyways, everybody go vote for good!!
What bothers me is that he was charged and AQUITTED! Michael Jackson died innocent of all charges. Everyone always wants to comment on his personal life. Some of your other "heroes" that have been imortalized in butter were slightly tarnished as well. "The King" passed away due to pill popping. That was obvious at the crime scene. MJ continues to be persecuted because no one wants to recognize the musical genius or philantropic hear that he had for children-all children around the world.
I find it hard to believe so many people choose to believe the charges even though he was acquited. Even though the first accuser, Jordan Chandler has come forward and said he lied at his father's demand. I'm really appalled at the News Media has refused to even cover Jordan's confession. I know this does not fit the image they are trying to perpetuate. But they are busy digging and picking his bones like Vultures for any thing negative they can find. How Shamful can they be. They will not even mention any of the charitable things he did to help people around the world. It is so sad that some people can only look or relate to that which is evil. They truly need to "Look at The Person in The Mirror." Rest in Peace Michael.
who cares about some Iowan loser-fair? since 97% of the votes came from Iowa, it looks like the rest of the world doesn't really give a flying f **k about the hick festival
And people wonder why a lot of minority are not living in IOWA.
MJ is too good to be made of butter.
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