Star City has temporarily removed the statue of singer Pops Fernandez from its newly opened STARtista Gallery following criticism from netizens over its appearance.
The attraction, which opened this month, features statues of Filipino personalities from entertainment, sports, fashion, comedy, and public service.
Photos of Fernandez’s statue circulated online and quickly drew reactions from social media users, many of whom questioned its resemblance to the Concert Queen.
Some fans even called for “Justice for Pops,” urging the amusement park to improve the figure.
In response to the criticism, Star City released a statement acknowledging that some of the statues still require refinement.
“To be completely real with you: we know we are just getting started. Some of our statues aren’t quite perfect yet, and we are already actively working behind the scenes to improve and refine them,” the statement said.
The amusement park explained that the project was intended to create a local attraction celebrating Filipino icons and personalities.
“It isn’t about perfectly replicating what’s abroad right out of the gate; it’s about finally creating a dedicated space right here at home to celebrate our very own local icons,” Star City said.
The company added that its goal was to provide Filipino families with an accessible experience similar to those found in international attractions.
“At Star City, our mission has always been to bring big, magical experiences within reach for every Filipino family,” it said.
Star City has not indicated when the updated version of Fernandez’s statue will return to public display.
