'Botched' restoration to church Virgin Mary statue sparks protests
The restoration of an iconic 17th century statue of the Virgin Mary has sparked huge protests in Seville after worshippers said her makeover left her looking like she had undergone plastic surgery. The Virgin of La Macarena is one of Spain 's most famed Catholic effigies, and many Spaniards travel south every year to catch a glimpse of the wooden figure during the city's Holy Week parades. So when the Brotherhood of the Macarena unveiled the surprise restoration over the weekend, her devotees were outraged, with critics saying she had been disfigured.
BEFORE RESTORATION
According to her worshippers, her face was given a glossier finish, while her eye lashes were made longer, which they say altered her gaze. 'Her facial expression has completely changed,' one outraged worshipper told Spanish newspaper El Pais. 'It pains me deeply to say it, but she looks like a poor copy of the original.' Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Basilica de la Macarena on Monday calling for the resignation of the brotherhood's leader.
BEFORE RESTORATION
AFTER RESTORATION
The brotherhood issued an apology and closed the basilica over the weekend, and the Virgin has since emerged with shortened eyelashes after efforts to correct an 'undesired effect.' The religious icon's controversial makeover has been likened to the botched art restoration of a painting of Jesus Christ, which resulted in the painting being dubbed: 'Monkey Christ'. In 2012, Cecilia Giménez, 82, decided to touch up the 'Ecce Homo' (Behold The Man) fresco in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy church in Borja, northern Spain.
AFTER RESTORATION
However, her brushwork completely obliterated the face of Jesus transforming the painting into what locals described as more like a hedgehog or hairy monkey rather than Jesus. It also comes after a Polish village was outraged earlier this year after a botched renovation of a 1820 shrine of Jesus and the Virgin Mary left the Blessed Mother looking like a 'Simpsons' cartoon character. Once described by experts as 'tall and slender', the Virgin Mary statue just outside the village of Stuszionka now has oversized mitten-like hands, exaggerated eyes and a crooked frown accentuated by bright red lipstick.
The figure of Jesus, meanwhile, appears to be wearing grey underpants, and both figures have been repainted with an unnatural yellow hue. Posting a photo on Facebook, the Conservator of Monuments said: 'A rather rare depiction of the Virgin Mary looking upwards. 'Another example of good intentions... Let's hope that in the near future this valuable object will receive professional conservation, because it deserves it very much.'
It added that the unknown restorer had also painted over the shrine's original German inscription, replacing it with the markings 'VII 2024, JC 2,' written in what appears to be a black marker pen. Locals vented their fury with the botch job, with some describing it as 'desecration'. Posting on social media, one outraged viewer said: 'The times of the greatest barbarity and ignorance of Spirit and Reason have come.' Another commented: 'I would take a risk and notify the prosecutor's office about offending religious feelings. Because this is nothing more than an example of desecrating an object of religious worship.' 'It looks more like Bart Simpson than The Mother Mary,' said another.
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Daily Mail
42 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Romeo Beckham's ex Kim Turnbull flaunts her jaw-dropping figure in skimpy swimwear in behind-the-scenes snaps from her racy Agent Provocateur campaign after hitting back at rumours she dated Brooklyn
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Telegraph
an hour ago
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How Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz became the hottest rumour on the tennis circuit
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That summer, she won the US Open; a year later, he followed suit. Although this is where their paths diverge. Since then Alcaraz has soared, adding five grand slam wins to his name – including a recent extraordinary comeback at the French Open when he clawed back the championship title after losing the first two sets of the final. Raducanu, meanwhile, has had a tougher run, struggling with injuries and the pressure of post-fairytale, 'hope of Britain' fame (albeit while racking up more luxury brand partnerships than tennis wins). If they are dating, does the discrepancy open the door to professional jealousy? There is precedence for this: Chris Evert and John Lloyd's marriage famously struggled under the weight of her superior career. 'I don't think so,' says Telegraph tennis correspondent Simon Briggs. 'Of course jealousy exists in couples on the tennis circuit, but [Raducanu] has such a big world view that I don't think she sees tennis success as the be-all and end-all. I think she'd be all right dating someone more successful than her.' As for their respective personalities – well, they do say opposites attract. 'Carlos is sweet, but he doesn't have an awful lot of chat,' says one tennis correspondent. 'In general, he seems a bit of a homebody and he doesn't have the expansive personality you get in someone like Federer.' Brumfitt, who profiled Alcaraz recently, adds: 'Carlos is really lovely, I would describe him as the dream son: he's just a good boy, a family man who says things like his mum's cooking is the best in the world and holds open doors for strangers.' 🪙 . @carlosalcaraz and @EmmaRaducanu are still working to get on the same page ahead of the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship 😅 — US Open Tennis (@usopen) June 19, 2025 As for Raducanu, well, she's definitely the one with the Julia Roberts charm – if not quite the Julia Roberts CV. 'When we sit down with her, she is almost always brilliant,' says the tennis correspondent. 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The result is that most people are either married, dating their coach or only emotionally available on brief holidays between tournaments. Male stars, at least, have plenty of opportunities for sex. 'Tennis fans inundate them with nudes on Instagram and will happily come and meet them in their hotel rooms – but if they want a girlfriend, they have to find someone who will travel the world with them,' says Briggs. This is perfectly possible: Morgan Riddle, who is going out with American tennis star Taylor Fritz, has turned her role as tennis-tour WAG into a full-blown influencer career. For women, however, the set-up is more complicated. 'How many men will give up their careers to travel to tennis tournaments with you? It's just not as socially accepted, so they're in a difficult situation, and often they end up sleeping with a member of their own entourage,' says Briggs. As for this duo – very few rumours have come to light about the Spaniard's dating history, while Raducanu has previously been linked to Carlo Agostinelli (who looks surprisingly similar to Alcaraz), former Harrow head boy and son of a private equity magnate, and Benjamin Heynold, a long-time friend who she was seen celebrating with in Times Square after her historic US Open win. For now, Raducanu and Alcaraz have a busy summer ahead. At Eastbourne today, during one of Raducanu's matches, cries of 'Where's Carlos?' could be heard from the stands. So expect the rumour mill to go into overdrive once the crucial mixed doubles tournament in New York actually gets under way. If they so much as smile at each other in between games, thousands of tennis-loving Mrs Bennets will start planning the wedding. And if, after one of them hits the winning shot, they joyfully embrace on the court before taking home $1 million in prize money? 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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Gabby Allen moves on from ex Casey O'Gorman just weeks after shock split as she strikes up romance with another Love Island star
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