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April 23, 2026

The World Is Obsessed With the Rocky Statue. Here’s Why.

City Cast Philly

The World Is Obsessed With the Rocky Statue. Here’s Why.

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Rocky Balboa never actually lived in Philly (since he is the fictional character portrayed by actor Sylvester Stallone). But if you take a look around the city, he definitely has a home here. Rocky is on posters, shirts, and mugs. He’s even quoted in a mayonnaise billboard along the highway. The pinnacle of the character’s influence can be seen in the long lines at the Philadelphia Museum of Art leading up to a statue of his likeness. Host Trenae Nuri talks with Paul Farber, co-founder of Monument Lab and the curator of Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments – a new exhibit exploring why people are so fixated on Rocky and what this lore says about the impact of monuments on culture. 

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