Controversial Bull Statue Loses Its Manhood

An oversized bull penis at the center of a dispute in the small Utah town of Hurricane has been cut off—but restaurant owner Stephen Ward says it was because he decided he didn't like the look of it on the statue, not because he cares what his neighbors think. The owner of Barista's Restaurant tells the Spectrum that he told the city: "I am not removing the penis for you or because of your complaints. I don't like you. I'm doing it for me. I just decided it would look better without the weenie. And oh my God! It's beautiful." He tells the St. George News that he decided the conical penis—which sparked weeks of complaints from local residents—was "stupid because it looks like a party hat."

Ward says he paid $130,000 in Las Vegas for the bull sculpture, which he placed on a perch outside the restaurant. The outrage over the statue's "party hat," which led to a petition to revoke the restaurant's license, was just the latest in a series of disputes between Ward and local residents, who accuse him of charging too much for food and having poor business practices, according to the AP. Ward counters that his food is some of the best in southern Utah and the statue has helped his business. "I am having fun with all the attention and it's brought in more customers," he says. (More statue stories.)