Marilyn Monroe statue coming to L.A.

A 26-foot statue of actress Marilyn Monroe is coming to Los Angeles at the end of May.

The monument, christened Forever Marilyn, was installed at Chicagos Pioneer Court in 2011. It is now scheduled to be at the corner of Tahquitz Canyon Drive and Palm Canyon Drive until next June.

The statue depicts the moment in the film, The Seven Year Itch (1955), when Monroes dress is blown up by air from a subway grate.

Controversy arose when some called the statue sexist. However, it still became a popular landmark. So much so, that it has been targeted by vandals.

"Even worse than the sculpture itself is the photo-op behavior its inspiring," film critic Richard Roeper wrote. "Men (and women) licking Marilyns leg, gawking up her skirt, pointing at her giant panties as they leer and laugh. Its not that the sculpture is shocking or sexist or obscene but its definitely bringing out the juvenile goofball in many of us."

However, the statues creator, J. Seward Johnson, is pleased with the various reactions to his work.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the variety of reactions to the sculpture," he said. "The city of Chicago is richly appreciative of public art in all its forms and is a model for other cities to follow."