Woman worships green statue for 4 years only to find out that it's 3D-printed Shrek

Shrek, a fictional character, is known for his green skin, rounded face and distinctive ears. (Image credit: AFP)

A woman in the Philippines spent four years worshipping what she believed was a Buddha statue before discovering that the green figure she had been praying to daily was actually a 3D‑printed model of Shrek, the animated ogre from the popular film franchise.

The incident, which has amused social media users, began when the woman—who has not been identified—purchased the statue from a local shop in Manila, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. With its rounded shape and calm facial expression, she assumed it was a depiction of Buddha and placed it prominently on her home altar.

For years, she treated the statue with reverence, lighting incense and offering daily prayers in the belief that it would bring blessings into her life. The figure remained part of her household rituals until a visiting friend noticed that something about it looked unusual.

A poster of the first Shrek movie, released in 2001. (Image credit: Dreamworks)

According to accounts shared online, the friend pointed out that the statue’s vivid green colour and facial features did not resemble those of traditional Buddha imagery. A closer look revealed that the object was in fact a 3D‑printed figure of Shrek, a fictional character known for his green skin, rounded face and distinctive ears.

The revelation left the woman initially speechless, but she laughed it off, saying that what mattered most was the sincerity of her prayers and intentions, not the physical form of the object she worshipped.

According to SCMP, she said faith with good intentions matters more than appearances. The woman also indicated that she plans to continue worshipping the Shrek figure, viewing the experience as harmless and meaningful rather than deceptive.

The story quickly gained traction on social media, where users responded with a mix of humour and philosophical reflections on faith. SCMP quoted one user as saying, “This is honestly hilarious. She has gained merit, but I have just lost one point of merit.” Another commented that devotion “comes from within” and that the object of worship mattered less than personal belief. A third quipped: “The moral of the story is that sometimes you need to watch cartoon films too.”