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It’s been practically one 12 months since Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a talking engagement in Utah.

And an Italian based mostly sculptor is planning to mark the event by unveiling a life-sized statue of Kirk in Midtown Manhattan.

The one drawback, he says, is that the entire challenge has been a complete catastrophe.

Artist Sergio Furnari even admitted that he has thought-about whether or not the statue of the late Turning Level USA founder would possibly really be “cursed” after a collection of monetary and private setbacks surrounding the controversial work.

Furnari spent roughly $100,000 of his personal cash creating the monument, hoping it might appeal to rich backers and finally elevate hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.

As an alternative, he says the challenge has generated little monetary help whereas making him the goal of on-line backlash.

He provides that he has at present raised simply $8,000 from his GoFundMe web page.

“I used to be considering that it was going to resonate with the world,” Furnari informed The Guardian. “However man, persons are unusual on the market.”

The sculptor has reportedly raised solely a small fraction of what he hoped by way of crowdfunding and says he’s been flooded with hostile messages from critics, together with some threatening to vandalize the statue as soon as it’s publicly displayed.

The setbacks haven’t been restricted to fundraising.

Whereas engaged on the sculpture, Furnari tripped over a roll of tape in his studio and broke his foot, an accident that solely added to his mounting bills.

Requested whether or not the string of misfortunes made him suppose the statue was cursed, Furnari acknowledged the chance earlier than finally rejecting the thought.

“Is it cursed? Perhaps. I don’t know,” he initially mentioned. Later, nonetheless, he insisted, “The statue will not be cursed. The statue is blessed.”

Regardless of the controversy, Furnari nonetheless intends to unveil the statue in New York Metropolis’s Occasions Sq. on September 10, the primary anniversary of Kirk’s loss of life.

The sculpture depicts Kirk carrying a sweatshirt emblazoned with the phrase “Freedom” whereas holding a microphone, reflecting his campus talking appearances.

Furnari has mentioned the challenge is meant as a tribute to free speech fairly than a political endorsement, noting that he disagreed with a few of Kirk’s views throughout his lifetime.

Whether or not the statue finally finds a everlasting house stays unclear.

For now, nonetheless, the viral monument has generated way more headlines than monetary help, leaving its creator hoping his costly gamble will finally repay.