8. Michael Jackson Statue By anonymous Craven Cottage London
This is a fine example of just how bad public art can be. This anonymous (I wonder why) polychrome statue of the late singer Michael Jackson stands 7.5 feet (2.3 m) high and is made of plaster and resin. While outside Craven Cottage it stood 13.5 feet (4.1 m) high inclusive of its plinth. This unsigned prop is portrayed wearing a silver jacket, black trousers, white socks and a single glove. Jackson was a friend of Al-Fayed. He had attended a football match, in 1999, at Craven Cottage to see Fulham play Wigan Athletic. Following Jackson’s death in 2009 Al-Fayed commissioned the statue with the plan of siting it inside Harrods in Knightsbridge, London, at the time owned by Al-Fayed. After Harrods sale the new Qatari owners they did not want it and Mr Al Fayed arranged for the statue to be placed outside Craven Cottage. After pressure from fans of Fulham FC, this inappropriate monstrosity was removed from view for fear of vandalism. Mohamed Al Fayed believes Fulham’s demise can be put down to the “crazy” removal of the statue of singer Michael Jackson from Craven Cottage. It was moved to the National Football Museum in Manchester in 2014.