Outrage in Copenhagen after tourist is filmed fondling Little Mermaid statue
An American tourist was blasted after climbing onto Copenhagen's famous mermaid statue - and getting a bit too friendly.
Dylan Trinkler, 19, witnessed a fellow tourist cuddling The Little Mermaid statue - despite signs stating "CLIMBING ON THE SCULPTURE IS NOT ALLOWED".
Bizarre video footage shows the woman perched on the rock base of the statue rubbing her face on it, on Saturday.
There are signs surrounding the sculpture to stop people touching the monument and Dylan says spectators were unhappy with the woman's behaviour.
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The bronze mermaid statue was created about a century ago by famous Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen (Getty Images)
The American tourist reportedly laughed off the backlash from the locals, which Dylan said was 'bizarre' (Dylan Trinkler / SWNS)"There was a crowd of about 100 people and everyone was watching on really confused," Dylan said. "The Danish people there were saying, ‘This is Danish heritage’ and ‘tThat’s art work.
"Also, many people were booing and shouting for her to get off. She started pretending to make out with the sculpture and people were outraged. They started asking her why she was doing it, saying that it was disrespectful, but she just laughed it off. When she came down she went to the woman she was there with and started high-fiving and kissing her. It was bizarre."
The Copenhagen mermaid statue is an iconic monument for both Copenhagen and Denmark. The magical bronze mermaid has been bolstered by Disney who drew inspiration for the all-time classic "The Little Mermaid.
Dylan Trinkler, 19, said the tourist drew in an angry crowd of about 100 locals who were infuriated by the woman's "disrespect" of the sacred statue (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima)The sculpture unveiled in 1913, is made of bronze and granite and sits in the water at Langelinie Pier. The Little Mermaid is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land.
The bronze statue was created by Danish Sculptor Edvard Eriksen. He was commissioned by Danish Brewer Carl Jacobsen in January 1909. Carl was a massive fan of the Copenhagen Royal Theater, which performed a show about a mermaid who turned into a human.
Jacobsen contacted the star of the ballet, Ellen Price De Plane, to model for the statue, but was forced to recast the model as Ellen wasn't comfortable with posing nude for the sculptor. Edvard enlisted the help of his wife Eline Eriksen to pose for the artwork instead.
There are several "copies" or different takes on the statue in several other countries. Edvard had authorised the sculptors to reimagine his work while others were merely never penalised.
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