Justin Bieber Statute removed from museum

Demi Heranne, left, and Melanie Aparitio, right, kiss a wax figure of singer Justin Bieber after the unveiling at Madame Tussauds museum in New York, March 15, 2011.REUTERS

Just as Justin Bieber seems to be in the midst of a superstar meltdown, so is his waxwork figure at Madame Tussauds, according to the New York Post.

The Bieber likeness on display at Tussauds New York on West 42nd Street has been groped, fondled and grabbed by so many excited fans that exhibit organizers have had to withdraw his dummy from display.

One source said of the Bieber figure, which was installed in his younger, more innocent days, “With no ropes or barriers to stop them, thousands of fans have had their photographs taken with him since then — but it has taken its toll.”

Madame Tussauds New York says the figure has been damaged over the years, and despite regular maintenance, “it no longer does justice either to the star or to the attraction,” and so it has reluctantly decided to remove it.

Madame Tussauds general manager, Bret Pidgeon, acknowledged, “This is disappointing, but hopefully we can welcome a new ‘grown-up’ Justin back to the attraction in the near future.”