In this day and age you’re not likely to see a wax figure outside of a history museum, except for the occasional uncanny valley versions that people sometimes make of celebrities. In the modern era, wax figures are considered odd, kitschy, and creepy.
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With their glassy eyes and mushy looking skin, the manmade effigies have given many a child a nightmare. Although today we use them either to learn about our past or worship celebrities of the present, they were originally created to- well actually they were pretty much always used for that.
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Wax figures can be traced all the way back to the middle ages when they were sometimes used as offerings to the churches. The figures were meant to preserve the memory and visage of monarchs and other great parsonages through a wax mask. Much like the entire plot of Night at the Museum.
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However, even back then the general populace found the dead-eyed stare of wax figures to be somewhat unsettling, and superstitious beliefs soon began to circle them. In fact, wax figures were used as a sort of early voodoo doll and were sometimes made in the image of enemies.
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When the enemy wax figure was complete, people would stick long pins through them, an act that was thought to be even more effective if the wax figure was made with some of the actual person, such as their hair or fingernails.
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This was not overly strange behavior for the time period, and similar practices were discovered in the Scottish Highlands. They used clay instead, but implemented the same method of making the figure in the likeness of their enemy. The Scotts would then place the figure in the river and allow it to be carried away, believing that as the clay figure washed away, so to would the health of the enemy.
No matter what your parents may have said about body art growing up, most people reach adulthood knowing the truth, tattoos are cool. They can be a very strong form of self expression, one more powerful than simply slapping on a pin or walking around with a vague slogan on your jacket. They can also just be pretty cute or just plain awesome. Some people just pick something they think is neat and get it done, while others toss and turn for months trying to decide on the perfect design. Hopefully in the end, you wind up with something you’re happy with, even proud of. But some people don’t get quite what they asked for, or realize too late that maybe they should have just gone with a flower or a bird. Here are some of those people.
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Walmart. The name itself sends mixed reactions but all in all, Walmart is not seen as a shiny, wonderful place you brag about going to. To no one’s surprise, Walmart recently offended a HUGE group of people and we are not sure how they are going to dig themselves out of this one. But before we get there, let’s talk about all the items Walmart had to ban from their shelves…
MENTAL FLOSS
Yes, you read that right. Panties that read “Who needs credit cards…” on the front and “When you have Santa” on the rear. The panties came to the Junior department in time for Christmas around December 2007 and thanks to the internet, were quickly taken off shelves because it seemed to insinuate Dear Old Saint Nick as a Sugar Daddy to young girls. Not a shining moment for Walmart…
MENTAL FLOSS
Barbie’s preggo friend, Midge was cleared from shelves in 2002. The doll featured a removable stomach complete with a deliverable baby was part of Mattel’s “Happy Family set” [I see nothing out of the ordinary here]. The set also included her husband and son but customers complained about seeing pregnancy being a thing for Barbie [what she can do everything else EXCEPT me a mom?!] and surprise, surprise, Midge was booted overnight…
MENTAL FLOSS
Just this past Halloween, Walmart got in HUGE trouble for selling [and later pulling] a “Naughty Leopard” costume for FREAKING TODDLERS. Yea WTF Walmart. As a side note: it didn’t look naughty or leopard-y at all but shout out to parents for not letting Halloween begin to sexualize into the preschool years…
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Remember Superbad in 2007 and how it came with a replica of the fake Hawaii driver’s licenses used by “McLovin”-? It was awesome, right? Most would think it was a great reminder of the movie’s funniest scene but Hawaiian authorities felt it could be used as a fake ID. LOLLS. The mayor of Honolulu requested himself Walmart pull the DVD for stores across the country and Walmart did that because you don’t mess with Hawaii…
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You think that was bad? What about politics on kid’s tee shirts? Oh yea. Walmart went there and I don’t think they ever came back…
For being out of the limelight, 50 Cent has been prettttty busy these days. What has the iconic rapper been up to exactly? Well for starters, he likes to stand behind strangers with Jimmy Kimmel…
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In this popular segment, Jimmy Kimmel [a.k.a our favorite prankster in Hollywood] has his people talk to civilians [or noncelebrities] who pass by the studio at Hollywood Boulevard, where as we’ve seen, is a place with a lot of opinions. The segment goes straight to the street to ask folks what they think about certain celebrities…while said celebrities stand right behind them….
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It’s a recipe for comedy and the results are hilarious. The question asked throughout the segment was “Would you agree that 50 Cent is the best rapper of all time?” and the responses from both the people and celebrities were PRICELESS…
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The gentleman below responded with: “Disagree. Entirely.” to which, you can imagine, 50 Cent did not respond kindly too….
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During the first portion of the segment, the celebrity is hidden behind studio doors, just feet away from the street where the interviewers are talking. And who is watching from a monitor that live streams the whole thing?
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None other than 50 Cent himself. Oh, it’s as bad as you think it gets. Keep clicking to watch the train wreck get better er worse…
