John O'Connor said the figure was a "hideous" representation of his sister. (AP: Julien Behal)
In short:
A Dublin museum has removed its wax figure of Sinéad O'Connor after complaints that it did not resemble the late singer.
O'Connor's brother said he was "shocked" by the figure, which he described as "between a mannequin and something out of the Thunderbirds".
What's next?
The museum has apologised and said it would immediately begin work a more accurate likeness.
A Dublin museum has taken down its wax figure of Sinéad O'Connor after fans and family members raised concerns about its poor likeness to the late singer.
The museum unveiled the figure on Thursday, local time, in honour of the first anniversary of O'Connor's death.
The singer died in her London home of natural causes on July 26, 2023, aged 56.
Fans filled the street of her former seaside hometown for a funeral procession in August of that year.
The event followed a private service attended by then-Irish prime minister Leo Varadkar, President Michael Higgins and musical luminaries including Bono of U2 and Bob Geldof of the Boomtown Rats.
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John O'Connor, the singer's brother, said the museum's wax figure was a "hideous" representation of his sister that looked like a cross between something in a department store window display and a 1960s sci-fi TV show that used electronic puppets.
"When I saw it online yesterday I was shocked," he told Irish broadcaster RTE.
"I thought it looked something between a mannequin and something out of the Thunderbirds."
He said he was upset by the timing of the unveiling and the fact that no-one had contacted his family.
"As I said earlier, the world may have lost a star, and they did, but I lost my sister," he said.
"It just should not have been put there even without checking with somebody: 'Is this all right?'"
The National Wax Museum Plus apologised to O'Connor's family and said it would immediately begin creating a more accurate likeness.
Paddy Dunning, the Dublin museum's director who called O'Connor a longtime friend, said she deserved a better tribute.
"In response to the public's feedback regarding the wax figure, we acknowledge that the current representation did not meet our high standards or the expectations of Sinéad's devoted fans," the museum said in a statement.
The singer is best known for her 1990 cover of Prince's ballad Nothing Compares 2 U. (AP: Antonio Calanni)
The singer is best known for her 1990 cover of Prince's ballad Nothing Compares 2 U.
O'Connor was considered a national treasure in Ireland, where she started out performing on the streets of Dublin.
She became a controversial figure after she tore up a photo of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live in 1992.
Accurately capturing the likeness of celebrities has famously tripped up many an artist.
A Polish wax museum was ridiculed last year for what some called creepy depictions of Kate, the Princess of Wales, and her husband, Prince William.
A sculptor who was mocked for his bronze piece of Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, went back to his studio for a do-over that was more warmly received.
Likewise, US women's soccer star Brandi Chastain got a replacement for a panned plaque where she was compared to looking like actors Gary Busey and Mickey Rooney, and former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.