Fake Eyeball Trend Sweeps Small US Town
Backlash to Authorities' Warning... "Solve Homelessness First"
A small town in Oregon, USA, is reportedly facing difficulties due to citizens attaching 'fake eyeballs' to statues in public places.
The Bend, Oregon authorities recently issued a warning through official social media platforms such as Instagram about the act of attaching large plastic fake eyeballs to statues.
The authorities pointed out, "Fake eyeballs are being attached to artworks throughout the city," adding, "While these eyeballs might provoke laughter, they damage the artworks and removing them incurs significant costs." According to the city, eight statues in public places have been damaged by these 'fake eyeballs' so far.
Since all these statues are expensive, removing the fake eyeballs attached with adhesive requires professional help. Because of this, the 'damage restoration' costs have reportedly snowballed.
The authorities requested, "Of course, we will not overlook acts like placing wreaths or Santa hats, but please stop actions that directly damage the value of statues, such as graffiti or fake eyeballs."
City spokesperson Rene Mitchell pointed out that the adhesive on the eyeballs removes the coating that prevents corrosion of the statues, causing problems. In an interview with a local broadcaster, he said, "(The steel used in the statues) can rust and disappear due to the adhesive. To prevent this, chemical treatment is necessary," and lamented that over $1,500 (about 2.15 million KRW) has already been spent removing the eyeballs.
It is known that a considerable amount of money must be spent to remove the eyeballs attached to the statue. Instagram capture
He warned, "Adding fake eyeballs might amuse people, but ultimately it will cause unintended significant damage."
The 'fake eyeball attachment craze' has recently been spreading in several cities in the Oregon area. As statues with eyeballs became famous, they became a topic not only on local broadcasts but also on popular talk shows across the United States.
Local citizens appear to be dissatisfied with the city's 'warning.' In response to the plea not to attach fake eyeballs, Oregon residents posted mocking comments such as, "Instead of stopping people from harmless pranks, how about focusing on solving the homeless problem," "Our government officials must be really handling important matters," and "I hope this notice sparks even more fake eyeball craze."
Amid growing controversy, spokesperson Mitchell explained in a recent interview with CBS News, "The city authorities did not intend to take a hardline approach," adding, "We simply own an extensive public art collection and wanted to inform the community that applying adhesive harms the artworks."
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