Huge half-monkey half-human statue in Texas sparks conservative backlash

Conservatives are raging over the arrival of a 90-foot tall statue of Hanuman, a Hindu deity that is half-human and half-monkey, in Texas.

The massive statue was raised on August 15 at Sugar Land’s Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple, according to local NBC affiliate KCEN. Hindus consider Hanuman an immortal being known for his devotion to the Hindu god Rama and virtues like self-control.

The Texas Hanuman figure, officially titled the “Statue of Union,” is now reportedly the third tallest statue in the continental U.S., trailing only the 151-foot tall Statue of Liberty in New York and the 110-foot tall Pegasus and Dragon statue in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Conservatives, particularly those identifying themselves as Christians, quickly lashed out at images and videos of the statue, with some claiming that the figure was “demonic.”

“This is a Hindu statue they just built in TX. I rebuke this demonic filth in the mighty name of Jesus Christ,” @itsmorganariel, a self-described “Christian activist,” wrote while sharing a video on X, formerly Twitter.

“A Hindu temple just unveiled a statue of their demonic Lord Hanuman … in Texas,” the End Time Headlines account wrote.

“90-foot statue of Hindu demon Hanuman erected in Houston, Texas. It is now the third tallest statue in America,” wrote @AFpost, an account that purports to share news “from an America First perspective.”

“In Texas there is a 90 ft statue of Hanuman, a Hindu monkey god. What is the United States anymore? A nation with no culture, now that the enrichers are prominent in the census,” self-described “Christian nationalist” @JuanValder72733 wrote.

Right-wing “humor-based news” website Not the Bee published an article on the statute that includes a warning about sparking “the wrath of the One True God by building massive demonic idols everywhere.”

Some other conservative X users shared racist suggestions that the statue resembled police murder victim George Floyd, who was Black.

Newsweek reached out for comment to Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple via email on Wednesday night.

Others defended the statue and lashed out at critics complaining about the fact that a private organization chose to install the figure on its own land.

“Christians & catholics etc…. getting offended by the Hanuman Monkey Bronze statue built on private lands in Southwest Houston but not getting ticked off about their churn numbers….? huh?” @datarade wrote on X. “You have an uncomfortable churn and decline problem that seems irreconcilable.”

“All the fanatics coping over a statue on private temple land just means that the next one got 10ft taller,” wrote @OnTheNewsBeat.

“That’s lord Hanuman, who is a symbol of strength, loyalty, devotion, and perseverance … Worshipped by 15% of the world’s population (1.2 Billion Hindus) … And you ignorant, arrogant fool name it is a monkey statue. Do better,” @DealsDhamaka wrote in response to an X post from anti-transgender activist Oli London.

While a number of conservatives mocked the statue and falsely claimed that it represents a demon, Hanuman is considered to be an important and non-demonic figure to devoted Hindus.

“For devotees and truth seekers, Hanuman represents acharya who connects a soul with the forgotten identity,” a page on the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple website reads. “The identity is: A soul is always subservient to God, not independent of God.”

“Hanuman utilises his knowledge, wit, values, qualities, appearance and all his skills to overcome any kind of hurdle in bridging the gap between a suffering soul (Sitha) and longing Lord (Sri Rama),” it continues.