A statue immortalizing Australian music industry icon Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum has been vandalized for the second time.
The statue of the 81-year-old Countdown presenter was created by artist Louis Lauman and stands in Wangaratta Street Park in Richmond, Victoria.
He is pictured wearing his famous Stetson hat and an Egyptian-themed t-shirt showing a thumbs up with one hand, while carrying his beloved dog Ziggy in the other.
Last month, the huge effigy was the victim of foul play when hooligans tried to dig up the tanned guru.
While it is unclear whether they intended to steal the sculpture or tear it down, the unauthorized excavation left significant damage to the local monument.
Yarra City Council has since removed the statue for repairs.
It is not the first time that the tribute to Molly has been attacked.
In 2023, Molly’s statue was defaced with red paint and graffiti.
A statue immortalizing Australian music industry icon Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum (pictured) has been vandalized for the second time.
Last month, the huge effigy was the victim of foul play when hooligans tried to dig up the tanned guru. in the photo
The vandals left the image crying tears of blood, her leg and coat were tagged, even Molly’s dog was not spared.
The pampered dog’s body was painted red.
The news comes as Molly continues to battle poor health.
Meldrum appeared frail in several recent images shared by her boyfriend, Thai businessman Yan Wongngam.
They contrast sharply with his more energetic appearance at the Australian Open in January.
In a photo shared on social media, the bald TV legend appears to be sleeping on a sofa at the couple’s Melbourne home, without one of his trademark hats and with his mouth open.
In another image, Meldrum appears bearded and lying on the terrace with a thin hand on his chest for what appears to be a daytime nap.
Meldrum has been “struggling” with his health and has largely withdrawn from public life, a source close to him revealed.
This November will mark 50 years since Countdown, the long-running ABC music show that propelled Meldrum to stardom, debuted on Australian television screens.
Meldrum, who has made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent years, failed to show up at a Royal Australian Mint event in Melbourne last Wednesday to launch a commemorative Countdown coin.
The show’s host, Gavin Wood, revealed that his long-term partner had been struggling with his health since a fall from a ladder in December 2011 almost killed him.
It is not the first time that the tribute to Molly has been attacked. In 2023, Molly’s statue was defaced with red paint and graffiti. in the photo
Disturbing photos of Australian music icon Molly Meldrum have emerged as the 81-year-old continues to struggle with his health. Meldrum appears in the photo with her boyfriend Yan Wongngam
In one photograph, the bald TV legend appears to be sleeping on a sofa in his Melbourne home, without one of his trademark hats and with his mouth open.
“The fall, it’s all because of the fall, it was a horrible thing to have happened,” Wood said. the Herald of the Sun.
‘He will be 82 years old in January. He’s been a public figure his entire life and I think he’s just enjoying a quieter life.
“He’s still Molly, he’s still interested in music and he’s still 11. He’s still mischievous, he still has that spark that we love, but I think he’s enjoying life being a normal person.”
Although Meldrum did not attend the coin toss, he did release a statement and introduced his famous catchphrase whenever he recommended an artist on the show.
“Do yourself a favor and get one,” he said. ‘The iconic countdown lives on.
‘I am left with very good memories of those days and a show that I will never forget.
“We made a difference to the music industry in Australia and that’s why I’m delighted to see the commemorative coins being made.”
Wood said his former colleague would be “pleased” to see something “as beautiful and imaginative” as the coins commemorating the show that made him a household name.
In another image, Meldrum is bearded and lying on a padded backside on the terrace with a thin hand on his chest for what appears to be a daytime nap.
Meldrum looks fragile while posing for a picture with her boyfriend
