After seven years, a new place has still not been found for the world-famous Michael Jackson statue at McDonald’s in Best. The 10-meter-high statue was removed in complete secrecy in 2019 after the singer became controversial. It has been in a warehouse in Nuenen for years. The owner again calls on Omroep Brabant for an end to this Thriller: “Everyone can report.”
“It is stored quietly and peacefully,” says Peter van Gelder, retired owner of the McDonald’s in Best. “Thirty to forty attempts have been made to find a place.” Yet there is still no success.
Wok
This week, a Chinese wok restaurant from South Holland reported to Omroep Brabant. They want the statue for the parking lot. Peter is interested but also says: “First the permit.”
That’s where things always break down. “It’s ten meters high, right? People often want the statue for their own promotion. Then you ask for a permit and you never hear anything again. Many municipalities do not issue it, it is a controversial figure.”
Almere
According to Peter, there were very serious plans in Almere to place the statue on the Michael Jacksonplein. Here too, the bad reputation ultimately prevented the statue from being installed.
A village in Drenthe was also seriously interested. “Driving at the end of the road,” sighs Peter. The statue was supposed to be near a disco somewhere, but it was very remote. That’s why it fell off. A Belgian also wanted to put it in his castle garden, but it is only open once a year. “The statue should be accessible to everyone,” is Peter’s great wish.
Palace
Even Johan Vlemmix wanted to place the statue at his ‘Paleis Soestdijk II’ in Eindhoven, which he has now sold. He also wanted to place it at his observatory in Hoeven, but it failed and the statue is still safely in Peter’s shed.
So the statue has been in Nuenen for years. “I don’t think about it every day anymore. It’s in a good place. I don’t have to maintain it. The outside of the statue is made of plastic, the inside is made of iron and it was renewed just before it was removed.”
Does he still have hope? “Maybe in a few years it will be on the scrap heap,” Peter chuckles, like a farmer with a toothache. “No, I don’t think so,” he quickly adds.
Peter makes an appeal: “Anyone can sign up! I don’t have to make any money from it.” He would prefer a foundation or museum for The King of Pop. “I really want a solution and for everyone to see it.”
Image away from McDonalds
The McDonald’s franchisee in Best had the statue placed near his restaurant in 1996. The statue was secretly removed early in April 2019 because the ‘King of Pop’ was discredited by the documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’. That is why, according to the chain, it no longer suited a family restaurant. Peter watched it reluctantly.
