© 2026 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

In New York, A Sculptor's Got Some S'plaining To Do

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

In Lucille Ball's hometown of Celoron, N.Y., there stands a statue of the famed comedian. But the statue isn't so popular with a lot of residents. An anonymous Facebook group titled "We Love Lucy, Get Rid Of This Statue" picked up some steam this past week, more than three years after the page was created. Residents complain that the statue is, well, terrifying. The creator of the Facebook campaign to remove the statue says, quote, "when you see it at night, it is frightening." But the mayor of the small New York village says the cost of replacing the head is simply too much for the taxpayers to take on. Now, I'm not going to take a position on this editorially, but seriously, take a look at the picture of this thing on our Facebook page. Bared teeth, broad shoulders, vacant bronze eyes. It looks like a hungry giant is coming after you after hitting the Vitameatavegamen.

(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, "I LOVE LUCY")

LUCILLE BALL: (As Lucy) Hello friends. I'm your Vitameatavegamen Girl. Are you tired, run-down, listless? Do you poop-out at parties?

(LAUGHTER)

BALL: (As Lucy) Are you unpopular? The answer to all your problems is in this little bottle. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Rachel Martin is a host of Morning Edition, as well as NPR's morning news podcast Up First.
Recent cuts to federal funding are challenging our mission to serve central and upstate New York with trusted journalism, vital local coverage, and the diverse programming that informs and connects our communities. This is the moment to join our community of supporters and help keep journalists on the ground, asking hard questions that matter to our region.

Stand with public media and make your gift today—not just for yourself, but for all who depend on WRVO as a trusted resource and civic cornerstone in central and upstate New York.