Braveheart, is That You?
Certainly looks like Mel Gibson
Friends,
Maybe you collect movie posters, maybe you have a t-shirt with your favorite baseball player’s name on it. As a celebrity, I am always humbled when I see little mementos like that, it feels great to be appreciated.
However, sometimes the lines between flattery and weirdness get blurred.
According to the Vintage News:
A controversial statue of William Wallace, aka Braveheart, has been giving football fans something to shout about. Twitter users are also getting a kick out of it!
Carved by Tom Church back in 1996, “Freedom” – or the “Spirit of Wallace” – depicts the fiery historical figure as played by Mel Gibson in his award-winning film. Hollywood liberty-taking aside, this is the image people have when they think of Braveheart.
A visitor’s center parking lot in Stirling was the statue’s original home. Here it stood for a decade, within range of the famous Wallace Monument, Abbey Craig.
If Gibson’s warrior inspired movie fans in the area, his stony version failed to have the same effect. Church’s creation was often targeted by vandals. According to The Scotsman, writing in 2017, they had “thrown paint on it and gauged on its face.”
Things became so bad that “Freedom” was put in a cage… talk about defeating the object. From 2008 onwards it was the property of the artist.
However, in a twist worthy of Hollywood, it nearly ended up in the hands of Donald Trump! Tom Church figured the future president might want it at his Scottish golf resort, but it looks like The Donald wasn’t interested.
Who knows, maybe Wallace would appreciate people thinking he looked like Mel Gibson?
Your humble servant,
Ben Stein
P.S. The fun doesn’t stop when the episodes end! Come join me and let’s chat on MeWe!
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Ben and Jonah, I have been listening to your podcast for about six months and haven't missed an episode since July 23. You and your guests are a delight to listen to and provide a glimmer of light in a progressively dark time. It brings me great joy to see how quickly your audience has grown and hope it only continues to expand. Where there is a light the evil one cannot win. I pray for you and your families that God will continue to give you the strength to bring light to this world. God Bless, Ced Burgher (Houston, Tx - age 35)