Pop Star Kacey Musgraves Joins the Backlash Over Mural Removal
Pop star Kacey Musgraves has become a vocal critic of the decision to paint over a beloved whale mural in downtown Dallas ahead of the World Cup. The mural, known as ‘Whaling Wall 82,’ was an 82-foot-high, 164-foot-wide artwork featuring six humpback whales. Created in 1999 by conservationist artist Wyland, the mural had become a local landmark and a symbol of environmental awareness.
However, the mural was recently covered up as part of preparations for the World Cup, which will be hosted in Dallas next month. FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, claims the new artwork will reflect the “energy, unity, and global spirit” of the event. But Wyland, the original artist, has strongly opposed the move, stating he was never consulted about the change.
Musgraves, a country singer from Texas, has publicly expressed her disappointment over the incident. She shared a link to local news coverage on social media, writing, “This makes me really sad. We suck the soul out of everything.” Her comments have sparked widespread support from the community and raised questions about the treatment of public art during major events.
According to Fox4, a North Texas FIFA committee member claimed they had been in contact with Wyland regarding the mural’s removal. However, Wyland has denied this, calling it “a lie with a capital L.” He added, “They picked the wrong artist, I can tell you that. I am going to go after them and go after them hard.”
Wyland is determined to protect his work and has urged the people of Dallas to stand with him. He believes the mural is worth approximately $15 million and has stated that if FIFA offers him compensation, he will donate the money to a conservationist charity.
The controversy has also drawn attention from local media. In a column published in the Dallas Morning News, Robert Wilonsky wrote, “It has been drowned in blue paint from which it will likely never be rescued.” He criticized the way the city has been taken over by FIFA, noting that the mural represented a “good thing not to foul up everything.”
FIFA has faced criticism in the United States for its high ticket prices, which have made it difficult for many fans to attend the games. For example, tickets for the first U.S. match in Los Angeles against Paraguay on June 12 are priced at around $1,000. Even former President Donald Trump has admitted he would not pay that amount to attend the game.
Dallas will host nine matches during the tournament at the home of the Cowboys, the AT&T Stadium. During the event, the stadium will be renamed “The Dallas Stadium.” Some of the most anticipated group stage games will take place there, including England vs Croatia, Argentina vs Austria, and Holland vs Japan on June 14.
The run of games in Dallas will conclude with a semifinal on July 14. However, for a month of intense soccer action, the ‘Whaling Wall 82’ mural—once a fixture in the city for nearly 30 years—will almost certainly be lost forever.
