Palm Springs

Marilyn in Motion: The Pricey Politics of a Pop Icon’s Panties

The $500K shuffle to move Marilyn Monroe 75 feet

Photo by Author

I recently visited Palm Springs for the PAMLA Conference, where I presented a paper to a room full of English professors and self-proclaimed nerds from the West Coast. After a long day of intellectual sparring — and more than a few caffeine-fueled debates about the death of the College Humanities and the tragic fate of the postmodern woman — the conversation unexpectedly shifted to the infamous Forever Marilyn statue, a 26-foot-tall sculpture of pop icon Marilyn Monroe that’s been stirring up controversy since its installation in front of the Palm Springs Art Museum in 2021.

Palm Springs is known for its vibrant LGBTQ+ community, and as a celebrated gay destination, it was surprising to hear that some residents were offended by Marilyn Monroe’s exposed buttierre.

After all, this is a town famous for pool parties, drag shows, nude sunbathing, and cheeky nods to camp culture — hardly the place you’d expect a scandal over a flash of vintage underwear.

Yet opponents, including the Committee to Relocate Marilyn (Crema), criticized the statue’s location, arguing that it obstructed Museum Way and presented a view they deemed inappropriate for…