By Kim Kalunian with reports from Liz Burke, WPRO News
A woman identifying herself as Raylene Worthington, the owner of the home with a 12-foot snow phallus in the front yard, called in to the John DePetro Show Friday morning. She said the snow sculpture, which prompted some neighbors to call the police and complain, was constructed by her children Monday night.
Since then, pictures of it have snagged the attention of news outlets and made the rounds on social networking sites. Click here to see a photo. WARNING: this image may not be suitable for everyone.
"People who are offended with it are the people who made it go viral," Worthington said.
Worthington said she believes people "completely overreacted" to the sculpture, which sits on a main road in South Kingstown.
"It was a joke, it was funny," she said. Worthington claimed her children built the snow sculpture Monday evening and she awoke to it Tuesday morning.
Some neighbors agreed with Worthington's point of view.
"I think it's very funny," said neighbor, David Carbone.
"It makes up for being without electricity. It gave us a good laugh," said another local woman.
When DePetro questioned Worthington about children in the neighborhood who might have to see it on their way to school, she said she doesn't think it's a "big deal."
"I think all children are aware of their sexuality," she said.
The South Kingstown Police told WPRO that they would not get involved with the removal of the snow sculpture since it's on private property.
Worthington offered this advice to those who don't want to see the snow phallus: "Turn your head!"
UPDATE: According to the snow sculpture's Facebook page, the 12-foot-tall phallus has been knocked down. At roughly 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, the manager of the page posted this:
"The sculpture is officially down. Enough excitement for 2 days. What started as an innocent joke was taken out of proportion by people with nothing else to do but complain. Life is short…keep smiling….and have Fun!"
