Statue of melting Ron DeSantis unveiled taking aim at climate change denial

Statue of melting Ron DeSantis unveiled taking aim at climate change denial The life-size statue’s face has melted away to reveal a skull underneath - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in A melting statue of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been unveiled in Tallahassee. The life-size statue, which is cast in a metal that melts at very low temperatures, takes aim at the governor’s record on climate change. The installation is named “DENIAL,” with advertising agency Uncommon Creative Studio noting on Instagram: “Most monuments are built to last. ‘DENIAL’ wasn’t.” “We raised a monument to climate change deniers, especially those holding the highest public office,” the post continues. Since it is cast in gallium, which has a melting point of just 85.6°F, the installation quickly began to deteriorate after its unveiling on October 13. The statue’s face gave way to a skull, images released by the agency show. Video footage posted to social media shows the metal around the statue’s face beginning to drip, before streaming down the statue’s body and pooling at its base. A plaque beneath the installation has been inscribed with DeSantis’ name and marks the start of his tenure in 2019 as well as its end in 2027. The plaque also seemingly takes a swipe at one of one of his more controversial policies, with an inscription reading: “HB 1645.” DeSantis signed legislation with the same name into law in 2024, removing the term “climate change” from Florida statutes, banning offshore and near-coastal wind turbines, and declaring the state would shift its focus away from cutting carbon emissions. Beneath the apparent reference to HB 1645, the plaque contained one of DeSantis’ most infamous quotes: “I am not a global warming person.” The statue was the result of a collaboration between 350 Action, Uncommon Creative Studio, and production company M ss ng P eces. One of Uncommon Creative Studio’s posts contains a link to a petition by advocacy group 350 Action, calling for signatories to pledge to “deny the deniers today.” DeSantis is ineligible to seek reelection in the 2026 Florida gubernatorial election, having served two consecutive terms. Representative Byron Donalds is the Republicans’ nominee to succeed DeSantis in the election on November 3 as part of the wider midterm elections. Like DeSantis, Donalds has expressed some skepticism about the concept of climate change. When asked in 2023 if he believed that there was a correlation between climate change and heatwaves at the time, Donalds was blunt. “No I don’t,” he told a reporter, according to E&E News. David Jolly, a former Republican now running as the Democrats’ nominee in the gubernatorial race, has taken a different stance, and in 2025, he called for greater investment in protecting the state’s environment. “We should accept the science of climate change, protect our beaches and state parks, and invest in resiliency throughout the state,” he wrote on X. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments