Risque Marilyn Monroe statue stirs up Windy City

(CBS News) 

It seems there's another reason Chicago is called the Windy City -- its winds have blown up the skirt of a gigantic statue of the late Hollywood bombshell Marilyn Monroe a bit too much, in the eyes of many.

Ever since the 26-foot tall, 17-ton statue of the voluptuous actress went on public display three weeks ago on Chicago's Michigan Avenue, some have called it hideous and inappropriate, while others have embraced it as art.

There's no denying that in death as in life, the iconic beauty continues to stir up controversy.

The sculpture, called "Forever Marilyn," by Seward Johnson, shows Monroe striking her famous pose from the 1955 film, "The Seven Year Itch." But there's a catch -- for anyone who wants to get close enough, you can see Monroe's underwear. Some tourists are even using it as an umbrella to stay dry from the rain.

While the shield factor is a bonus, some wonder whether it's really necessary to see her underwear.

"The Early Show" set out to find out what tourists thought about the Windy City's latest attraction.

So is this artwork or is this trash? Check out the video above, and you be the judge!

[Tatersoop]

I think it's simply trash!

[Tatersoop]

It's trash in my humble opinion.

[Tatersoop]

It's trash in my humble opinion.

[annioh]

Absolute trash ... oh gosl lets look at Marylin's underwear..... what can you expect from a bunch of perverts that get thier rocks off looking at women's panties.. Old wankers looking at the pantie line just above her vagina....

[gdinsb]

This says more about you than anything else. Get over it. It's a giant piece of metal in metal underwear. Yeah, *real* provocative.

My guess is the artist made this partly to see a bunch of puritans flip out. One wonders how puritanical types can bear to use the rest room or shower having to see their own underwear and bodies!

[Jaylah54]

I suppose, if you are a prepubescent boy, you might be titillated by this. For everybody else, grow up.

[AnnieDanny]

I'm sure Marilyn would be very proud.

[nativecc]

Ever been to the beach? What about all of the works of art that show breast and genitalia? Tacky? Yes but get over it people.

[markag55]

Why Chicago? It belongs either in Hollywood or NYC.