Looks pretty real to me.
I'd like to hear some more empirical points of view as to why this has to be fake, not just how it doesn't seem plausible. Checking the news stories is a good start, but johnkonig is right about the NY1 story. What's his name, the real silly reporter, did a bit in january about a vandalism attempt at the statue. I dont know if it was this or something else though.