I removed the elastic bands on mine.
There should be 2 black plastic hooks that will help with the removal of the longer bands. The other bands could be removed by stretching them a little and removed from parts of the statue that they are looped around. Everything can be removed without cutting if you like you retain the bands.
Personally, the statue looked more aesthetically pleasing to me after the bands were removed and if you think about it, the bands have no connection to the story or whatsoever, a titan isn't destroyed this way 😉
