NYC Statue Programmed to Shout “Excuseee Me?!” At Passersby Who Don’t Acknowledge It

NEW YORK, NY - On Monday, New York City unveiled a 12-foot-tall bronze statue of a plus-sized black woman in Times Square.

While tourists are lining up to take photos in front of the new statue, many residents reportedly have mixed feelings as the statue shouts “Excuseee me?!” at those who don’t acknowledge when they walk by.

“I’m all for celebrating strong black women,” local real estate agent Ted Santino said, “but I’ve gotta get to work. I don’t have time to sit and stare at every statue they throw up these days.”

According to the creator, Thomas J. Price, that’s exactly the kind of attitude that made him program the statue to accost passersby who didn’t acknowledge it.

“Everybody should stop and appreciate the role plus-sized black women play in our society every day,” Price told The Gas Lamp. “Non-black people should be checking their privilege every day, sometimes even multiple times a day. That’s why we put sensors and a voice box in the statue’s head to shame people who don’t take the time out of their busy lives to honor and respect strong women of color.”

At press time, Mayor Eric Adams announced that the city is planning to build another statue in Times Square of a black grandpa wearing a wife beater and boxers laying on a tattered recliner chair to further highlight the struggles black people go through.