It comes with no doubt that the wax figures that are found in Madame Tussauds are as life-like as they come. Many are impressed that these figures look identical to the real deal, down to the pores on their face – where is the line drawn in terms of how and where tourists touch these figures?
Andy Lau (刘德华), the renowned Hong Kong singer, has his own wax figure in the Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong. Unfortunately, the actor’s wax figure has also been reportedly molested many times by tourists who visit.
The news was broadcast live by a popular variety show host, Spencer Leung (梁思浩). The topic came about when there was mention of the famous Italian statue, Juliet. This famous statue is believed to promise a better love life if you touch her left breast, which is what the locals and tourists do. Although seeming inappropriate, to the tourist, it is believed to be folklore.
Still, what are the benefits of molesting an imitation of a Hong Kong celebrity? It is said that many fans would lean their heads on the movie star’s chest to hear the animatronic heartbeat that was crafted and placed inside the Hong Kong star’s wax figure. Could his fans also believe there to be an animatronic genital?
There seem to be little to no limitations on where guests at the museum are allowed to touch the figures, which can explain why the tourists start to get handsy. The TV host then went on to tell tourists to keep their hands to themselves as “there’s nothing there”. “They always end up wanting to touch and people often start pulling the zippers down,” he added.
Andy Lau’s wax figure was introduced to Madame Tussauds in Hong Kong in 2005. The figure was the first animatronic wax figure to be made out of silicon instead of wax with an animatronic heartbeat that is similar to the model used for Brad Pitt.
The wax figure had been molested for years ever since the release to the point the staff needed to check on the statue daily to ensure it was still in one piece. Until now, there have been visible damages on the wax figure due to the rough handling from tourists.
Sources: Chinatourguide, 8days
Jade Mary contributed to this article.
