A recently unveiled wax figure of the late Sinéad O'Connor has ignited a wave of criticism from fans who argue that the sculpture fails to capture the essence and likeness of the iconic Irish musician. Known for her haunting rendition of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," O'Connor's unexpected death at 56 on July 26, 2023, left a profound void in the music world, triggering an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans and fellow artists.

O'Connor's tragic passing followed the loss of her son Shane in 2022, which had a devastating impact on her. The overwhelming grief brought her latest album, "No Veterans Die Alone," to a halt and forced the postponement of her tour. To honor her musical legacy, the National Wax Museum in Dublin created a wax figure in her likeness, which was revealed just a day before the first anniversary of her death.

Paddy Dunning, a close friend of O'Connor and proprietor of the museum, delivered a heartfelt speech at the unveiling. "We didn't put her with this great big smile, we put her as a serious artist in this period time of 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' which was an emotional video. I think it touched everyone's heart," Dunning said, as reported by the Irish Mirror. "The head is amazing, the eyebrows, the lips, the hands are pretty amazing."

Despite the museum's intentions to honor O'Connor, the wax figure has been met with widespread disappointment and criticism from fans who feel it fails to do justice to the beloved singer. Social media erupted with negative reactions, questioning the effort and accuracy of the sculpture.

One user, @KeithAnderson6, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disbelief: "I have never joked about the quality of another artist's work. But I just can't accept that the wax work of Sinead was given the go ahead to be put on display. I have secondhand embarrassment for the artist in question. This is my portrait, and this is what she really looks like."

Another user, @glennpolley, described the figure as "awful" and questioned the museum's decision: "Did they just lift this from the window of the nearest H&M? Sinéad deserves more than that." Similarly, @queenemma3 was incredulous: "I actually can't believe that this was passed to even resemble our Sinead. I feel so bad for the guy who made it. I [just] saw on the live [that] he had health problems that no one told him before it was finished; he would [have] put huge effort [into] it."

The backlash continued with @SineadFarrell30 stating, "I'm sorry but that's appalling. Whoever is doing these wax figures needs to be retrained," and @rosetta_sister bluntly asking, "Very bad likeness, Did they even try?" Meanwhile, @RossCWalton1 deemed it "brutal."

The controversy surrounding the wax figure adds to the already complex legacy of Sinéad O'Connor. Her powerful voice and uncompromising stance on various social issues earned her both admiration and criticism throughout her career. The wax figure was intended to celebrate her contributions to music and culture, but for many fans, it has instead become a symbol of a missed opportunity to properly honor her memory.

Authorities have ruled out any suspicion surrounding O'Connor's death following an incident involving an "unresponsive woman" in Herne Hill, south London. Her passing marked the end of a turbulent yet impactful journey in the music industry, and fans continue to grapple with the loss of an artist who touched countless lives with her voice and activism.