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TikToker Stunned After Visiting Wax Museum In Krakow Which Has Rather Controversial Exhibits, Sparks Massive Discussion Online
TikToker Stunned After Visiting Wax Museum In Krakow Which Has Rather Controversial Exhibits, Sparks Massive Discussion Online
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TikToker Stunned After Visiting Wax Museum In Krakow Which Has Rather Controversial Exhibits, Sparks Massive Discussion Online

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What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you say “wax figures”? Madame Tussauds, most likely, and then? Probably that old series of slasher horror films, which, nevertheless, are still perceived by many people as an absolute guilty pleasure to watch. But sometimes wax figures become a really funny thing…

For example, just take a look at this series of videos from influencer Becka Blackburn, who, after visiting the wax museum in the city of Krakow in Poland, was left with absolutely mixed feelings, but has amassed over 15M views on TikTok in return.

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    The influencer once visited a wax figure museum in Poland and left it with rather mixed feelings

    Image credits: beckablackburn4

    Most of the figures in the museum do not seem to look much like their real-life prototypes

    So, the wax museum in Krakow is called Polonia and, according to their official website, has been successfully operating for more than a decade, and every month about ten thousand visitors come there to take pictures with wax copies of famous people and characters from popular culture.

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    However, how accurate are these copies? Just look, for example, at the figures of Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton. The heir to the British throne looks like he’s just read his brother Harry’s controversial memoir. But the late grandfather of the Prince of Wales, Prince Phillip of Edinburgh, on the contrary, looks much more beautiful than he was in life. Although, with regard to wax figures, here authenticity should prevail over beauty.

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    “Of course, there was a tradition back in the day when formal portraits of powerful people had to embellish their appearance,” says Alexey Shkurat, an artist and founder of Peach art studio, who was contacted by Bored Panda for a comment. “For example, if you look at the famous ceremonial portrait of the English king Henry VIII by Hans Holbein – yes, the very one who had six wives throughout his life, then he looks completely different there than he actually was. On the other hand, this tradition once backfired at him during matchmaking – after all, when one of the princesses arrived at the wedding, it turned out that she did not at all look like the ceremonial portrait that was sent to the groom, and with which he almost fell in love.”

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    “But portraits are exhibits for art museums, and people go to a waxwork museum primarily to take a selfie with a realistic copy of a celebrity. And if I take a picture, for example, with the figure of Donald Trump presented here, then later I will probably show this photo to friends, perhaps just in order to laugh heartily together. Although, there are quite a few pretty successful works here – for example, Mike Tyson looks quite realistic,” Alexey reasonably notes.

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    The museum’s official website, however, claims that “all wax figures are carefully made to give the smallest details”

    The museum’s official website reads: “Famous politicians, clergy, athletes, actors, fictional characters. All wax figures are carefully made to give the smallest details and so that you can feel that they are really standing next to you. Don’t wait and check it out today.” We don’t know about famous people, but Harry Potter, seeing his wax figure, would definitely violate the ban on using the Cruciatus spell once again… At least it seems so to us.

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    Interestingly, on Google, the reviews for this wax museum are quite high – from 3.5 to 5 stars. However, Rebecca Blackburn was hardly among those visitors who left a high mark. “Come with me to the worst wax museum in Poland,” the woman wrote in the description of the first of her TikTok videos. “I couldn’t tell if this was a real wax museum,” Blackburn captioned the post. “Wait until the end.”

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    @beckablackburn4 I couldnt tell if this was a real wax museum 💀 wait until the end #krakow#krakow23#poland#fail#funny#viral#waxmuseum♬ Funny Song – Cavendish Music

    People in the comments are cracking up at these wax figures as well, but are completely stunned by what they’ve done to the Avatar heroes

    On the other hand, the commenters seem to have really enjoyed watching the videos – in the end, healthy laughter is always great. “They look like they were made from memory with no reference pictures,” one of the commenters noted. And, of course, almost everyone is completely outraged by what the unnamed Polish sculptor has done to the poor Na’Vi. “Nooooo, what did they do to Avatar!” folks in the comments unanimously moan. And what do you, dear readers, think about the exhibits of this museum?

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    Oleg Tarasenko

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

    Read less »
    Oleg Tarasenko

    Oleg Tarasenko

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    After many years of working as sports journalist and trivia game author and host in Ukraine I joined Bored Panda as a content creator. I do love writing stories and I sincerely believe - there's no dull plots at all. Like a great Italian composer Joaquino Rossini once told: "Give me a police protocol - and I'll make an opera out of it!"

    What do you think ?
    fair_weather_rose
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a simple explanation for this. There was a fire, during which many of the wax figures melted. It was too expensive to replace them, so one lone employee turned to a life of crime. They went around the city, searching for people who somewhat vaguely resembled the lost figures, strangling them in their sleep and taking the bodies back to their secret lair, leaving a single wax flower behind at each crime scene. Once at their secret lair, the employee would embalm their victims and coat the bodies in a fine layer of wax to both preserve them and ensure that their skin felt like that of the remaining wax figures. They were then carefully placed in the museum under the cover of darkness. Several alterations were require for several of the "figures," hence their somewhat grotesque appearance.

    Ms.GB
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of my favorite cheesy 80s horror movie "Waxworks"

    Load More Replies...
    Slytherin_4_LYF
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The only one that looks like that person is the one of Mike Tyson. Otherwise the rest of them are scary AF!!

    V V
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought Lady Gaga was acceptable too.

    Load More Replies...
    Holly Stevens
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok but Trump is definitely future Biff from back to the future

    A girl
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah. He looks like a pandemic diet before picture.

    Load More Replies...
    A girl
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mike Tyson is the only one that remotely resembles his namesake. Everything else, rando.

    third molar
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Am very frustrated we cannot comment because n individual pictures.

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mme Tussaud is the only one ever worth seeing, if you want accuracy. I honestly thought there was a little old lady resting on a chair, then realised she wasn't moving - it was Agatha Christie.

    BINI
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They did prince william dirty

    Tris Hunt
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The smile was Jack Nicholson's Joker in Batman. Only one person can pull that off and that's Jack Nicholson.

    Load More Replies...
    Bridgett Haney
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lady Gaga and Mike Tyson were pretty good.

    V V
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Agree both of these were as good as what I saw at Madame Tussaud’s in Hollywood. Not of the same individuals but quality wise.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
    fair_weather_rose
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a simple explanation for this. There was a fire, during which many of the wax figures melted. It was too expensive to replace them, so one lone employee turned to a life of crime. They went around the city, searching for people who somewhat vaguely resembled the lost figures, strangling them in their sleep and taking the bodies back to their secret lair, leaving a single wax flower behind at each crime scene. Once at their secret lair, the employee would embalm their victims and coat the bodies in a fine layer of wax to both preserve them and ensure that their skin felt like that of the remaining wax figures. They were then carefully placed in the museum under the cover of darkness. Several alterations were require for several of the "figures," hence their somewhat grotesque appearance.

    Ms.GB
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of my favorite cheesy 80s horror movie "Waxworks"

    Load More Replies...
    Slytherin_4_LYF
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The only one that looks like that person is the one of Mike Tyson. Otherwise the rest of them are scary AF!!

    V V
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I thought Lady Gaga was acceptable too.

    Load More Replies...
    Holly Stevens
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok but Trump is definitely future Biff from back to the future

    A girl
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah. He looks like a pandemic diet before picture.

    Load More Replies...
    A girl
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mike Tyson is the only one that remotely resembles his namesake. Everything else, rando.

    third molar
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Am very frustrated we cannot comment because n individual pictures.

    Apatheist Account2
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mme Tussaud is the only one ever worth seeing, if you want accuracy. I honestly thought there was a little old lady resting on a chair, then realised she wasn't moving - it was Agatha Christie.

    BINI
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They did prince william dirty

    Tris Hunt
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The smile was Jack Nicholson's Joker in Batman. Only one person can pull that off and that's Jack Nicholson.

    Load More Replies...
    Bridgett Haney
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lady Gaga and Mike Tyson were pretty good.

    V V
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Agree both of these were as good as what I saw at Madame Tussaud’s in Hollywood. Not of the same individuals but quality wise.

    Load More Replies...
    Load More Comments
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