A bronze love seat statue donated by filmmaker Ron Howard and his wife, Cheryl, to a Burbank, California, park has become a public concern due to its tendency to overheat in the sun. The "kissing chair," valued at $88,440 according to the city, was gifted to Johnny Carson Park last year to commemorate the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. The Howards have a personal connection to the park, as they frequented it during their youth.
The statue, designed as a Victorian-style love seat with two seats facing opposite directions, is made of bronze and is situated in an area with no natural shade. This placement causes the metal to become extremely hot under the California sun, posing a burn risk to visitors.
A local resident and movie location scout, Nick Carr, brought attention to the issue on social media, describing the seats as "literally scalding." He reported that even on an 80-degree day, the bronze was too hot to touch for more than a second. Carr observed that park visitors often ignore the "Surface may be hot" warning sign and experience pain upon sitting in the chair.
Carr urged the city of Burbank to address the problem, emphasizing the intended purpose of the statue as a place for couples to relax and connect. Howard had envisioned the love seat as a spot where couples could "sit and talk and smooch a little bit," reflecting on his own experiences at the park with his wife.
Despite the overheating issue, the statue has seen use. Howard mentioned to Fox News that his brother drove by recently and saw a couple using the chair, stating, "It's working."