Conservatives are angry about the arrival in Texas of a 90-foot-tall statue of Hanuman, a Hindu deity who is half-man, half-ape.

The massive statue was erected at the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple in Sugar Land on August 15, local NBC affiliate KCEN reports. Hindus consider Hanuman an immortal being known for his devotion to the Hindu god Rama and virtues such as self-control.

The Texas Hanuman statue, officially titled the Statue of the Union, is now reportedly the third tallest statue in the Americas, trailing only the 150-foot-tall Statue of Liberty in New York and the 108-foot-tall Pegasus and Dragon statue in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Conservatives, particularly those who identify as Christians, reacted sharply to the images and videos of the statue, with some claiming the figure was “demonic.”

“That’s a Hindu statue they just built in Texas. I reject this demonic filth in the mighty name of Jesus Christ,” wrote @itsmorganariel, a self-proclaimed “Christian activist,” while sharing a video on X (formerly Twitter).

“A Hindu temple just unveiled a statue of its demonic god Hanuman… in Texas,” wrote the End Time Headlines report.

“A 90-foot statue of the Hindu demon Hanuman has been erected in Houston, Texas. It is now the third tallest statue in America,” wrote @AFpost, an account that claims to spread news “from an America First perspective.”

“In Texas there is a 90-foot statue of Hanuman, a Hindu monkey god. What is the United States anymore? A nation without culture, now that the enrichers are at the forefront of the census,” wrote self-proclaimed “Christian nationalist” @JuanValder72733.

The right-wing “humor-based news” website Not the Bee published an article about the law that includes a warning not to “incite the wrath of the one true God” by erecting giant demonic idols everywhere.

Some other conservative X users expressed racist speculation that the statue resembled black George Floyd, a victim of police murder.

Newsweek reached out to Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple via email on Wednesday evening for comment.

Others defended the statue and sharply attacked critics who complained that a private organization had chosen to place the figure on its own property.

“Christians and Catholics, etc. … are offended by the bronze Hanuman monkey statue erected on private property in southwest Houston, but aren’t upset by the turnover numbers…? huh?” wrote @datarade on X. “They have a nasty turnover and decline problem that seems unsolvable.”

“All the fanatics getting upset about a statue on private temple grounds only leads to the next one being ten feet taller,” wrote @OnTheNewsBeat.

“This is the god Hanuman, a symbol of strength, loyalty, devotion and steadfastness… He is worshipped by 15% of the world’s population (1.2 billion Hindus)… And you ignorant, arrogant fool call it a monkey statue. Do better,” wrote @DealsDhamaka in response to an X-post by anti-transgender activist Oli London.

While some conservatives have ridiculed the statue and falsely claimed that it represents a demon, devout Hindus consider Hanuman to be an important and non-demonic figure.

“For believers and seekers of truth, Hanuman represents Acharya that connects a soul with the forgotten identity,” says a page on the Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple website. “The identity is: a soul is always subordinate to God, not independent of God.”

“Hanuman uses his knowledge, wit, values, qualities, looks and all his abilities to overcome all kinds of obstacles and bridge the gap between a suffering soul (Sitha) and a yearning Lord (Sri Rama),” it continues.