A large statue of a mermaid in Denmark is set to be removed from public view after critics described it as \u201cugly and pornographic\u201d and a \u201cman\u2019s hot dream of what a woman should look like\u201d. <\/p>\n
The 13ft tall Big Mermaid statue was originally unveiled in Copenhagen in 2006, just a few hundred yards from the famous statue of the Little Mermaid. It has caused controversy for years due to its exaggerated figure and large breasts. <\/p>\n
In 2018, it was moved to Drag\u00f8r Fort, which lies several miles south of the city.<\/p>\n
Denmark\u2019s agency for palaces and culture is now preparing to remove the statue altogether, according to local media. The agency is said to have concluded that the mermaid figure does not fit with the cultural heritage of the fort, which dates back to 1910.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/rgebfsvdcsvf.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/p>\n
(YouTube)<\/p>\n
The Independent has reached out to the agency for comment.<\/p>\n
Politiken\u2019s art critic, Mathias Kryger, called the statue \u201cugly and pornographic\u201d in comments reported byThe Guardian.<\/p>\n
Journalist Sorine Gotfredsen also described the statue as \u201ca man\u2019s hot dream of what a woman should look like\u201d in Danish newspaper Berlingske, adding it was \u201cunlikely to promote many women\u2019s acceptance of their own bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n
The newspaper\u2019s debate editor, Aminata Corr Thrane, said that the scrutiny faced by the statue was akin to body shaming.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo naked female breasts have to have a specific academic shape and size to be allowed to appear in public?\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/big-mermaid2222.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/p>\n
The Big Mermaid has sparked controversy in Copenhagen (YouTube)<\/p>\n
Peter Bech, the man who designed and commissioned the statue, has fought back at criticism, insisting that the breasts are a \u201cproportional size\u201d.<\/p>\n
He told Danish broadcaster, TV 2 Kosmopol: \u201cThe mermaid has completely normal proportions in relation to her size. Of course the breasts are big on a big woman.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that the statue attracts tourists and slammed criticism as \u201cpure nonsense\u201d as he hoped a compromise could be reached.<\/p>\n
Mr Bech reportedly offered to donate the statue to the fort itself, to which Helle Barth, chair of Drag\u00f8r muncipality\u2019s climate, urban and business committee, told Berlingske: \u201cIt\u2019s just hard to fit in. It takes up a lot of space.\u201d<\/p>\n