Statue of Satan too "Friendly" for Spanish City

A bronze statue in the Spanish city of Segovia is being criticized by local residents as too “friendly” and “jolly.”

The sculpture was meant as a tribute to local legend that says the devil was tricked into building the city’s famous aqueduct, the BBC reported. But the newly erected devil — who’s depicted as a smiling, selfie stick-snapping tourist — has been deemed too happy.

“A planned sculpture of Satan in the Spanish city of Segovia has been criticised for being too jolly.” God I love the news. pic.twitter.com/EZzP8ToIyn

— Tiredtiana (@justjessthingsz) January 15, 2019

While the artist told the BBC that he was stunned by the backlash, an area judge has suspended the official unveiling while he considers whether or not the statue is too offensive to exist among Christians. As of Wednesday morning, nearly 5,500 people — just over 10% of the city’s population — have signed a petition calling for its cancellation.

“It seems to me incredible that people would be so fiercely against the sculpture of a devil to commemorate a popular legend, taught to Segovian kids at school,” the artist behind the controversial sculpture told the BBC. “I love Segovia. I have lived here for three decades and I was hoping for this sculpture to be a form of demonstration of how thankful I am to Segovia for being my adopted town.”

The petition says that because the devil is shown in a “jovial” way, with a phone in his hand, it “exalts evil” and is therefore “offensive to Catholics.”