Evocative Drug-Snorting Oscar Statue Hits Hollywood Boulevard Days Before Academy Awards

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles street artist is trying to shine a light on the problem of drug use in the entertainment industry with a controversial sculpture.

The life-size statue by the artist, known as Plastic Jesus, features an Oscar statue snorting drugs with the words "Hollywood's Best Party" underneath.

As KCAL9's Laurie Perez reports, Plastic Jesus hides his identity due to the illegal nature of his work.

He suggests the piece is a stance the world and Hollywood especially know all too well.

"We often hear about it when a high-profile celebrity perhaps goes into rehab," he said. "People like directors, producers, hair and make-up people, electricians, sound guys and so on, these people don't get the care, the treatment that the high-profile people can access."

Plastic Jesus' team placed the evocative statue on Hollywood Boulevard Thursday, where it received second glances and he hopes opened eyes.

His crew, however, removed the statue after a not-so-pleased passerby began to call the Chamber of Commerce.

"We didn't want a confrontation, you know, the message is out there," he explained.

Last year, Plastic Jesus erected an eight-foot-tall depiction of an Oscar statue shooting up just weeks after actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman died of a drug overdose.

"Plastic Jesus is this whole thing about a fake idol, which is really what this is all about," he said. "If one person who has a heroin addiction or cocaine addiction sees a piece of my art and gets help, well that's it, my works done."

Perez reports that the work will be back on display this weekend in front of the Urban Outfitters store on Melrose Avenue.