Harvey Weinstein 'Casting Couch' Statue Appears on Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Oscars may be trying to stay focused on films rather than politics, but not everyone is willing to let Oscar weekend pass without a reminded of the industry's crusade against sexual misconduct and the shadow of the man whose crimes launched a new era of transparency.

A golden statue called Casting Couch appeared on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week at the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and La Brea Avenue, blocks away from where the Oscars will be held tonight (at the Dolby Theater). The disturbing piece of art depicts Weinstein, outfitted in the bathrobe so many women have alleged he assaulted them while wearing, holding an Oscar statue and sitting on a chaise lounge, arm outstretched as if to hover menacingly over a victim.

Anonymous street artist Plastic Jesus collaborated with Joshua "Ginger" Monroe -- whose statues of a naked Donald trump appeared in cities across the US ahead of the 2016 election-- on the piece. "For many years the exploitation of many hopefuls and established names in the industry was brushed under the carpet with their complaints of harassment and sexual abuse being ignored or worse," Plastic Jesus told The Hollywood Reporter. "Hopefully, now in the light of recent allegations against many leading figures in Hollywood the industry will clean up its act."

"Everyone wants a selfie, everyone wants to be part of the experience," continued the artist, who hopes the statue will be "a visual representation of the practices and methods that are used in Hollywood with these big powerful people."

"To be able to knock the monster down a peg and poke fun and ridicule it helps remove its power," Plastic Jesus told the Reporter. "That's how you take these powerful people down. As Mark Twain once said, 'Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.'"