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Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Is Shattered by Vandal Donald Trump’s Star Being Repaired; Suspect Is Named in Vandalism
(about 20 hours later)
President Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was destroyed early Wednesday morning by a man with a pickax, the police said. President Trump’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was destroyed this week by a man with a pickax, the police said.
Around 3:30 a.m., officers received a call about the vandalism, and soon after found the pink terrazzo star, which Mr. Trump received in January 2007 for his NBC show “The Apprentice,” broken into pieces, said Officer Ray Brown, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department. A suspect, who has been identified as Austin Clay, 24, was being held in custody on bail of $20,000 on a charge of felony vandalism, the police said Thursday.
The suspect had pulled a pickax out of a guitar case, smashed the star — in the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard, near Highland Avenue — and then walked away, leaving the tool at the scene, according to NBC. Around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, officers received a call about the vandalism, and soon after found the pink terrazzo star, which Mr. Trump received in January 2007 for his NBC show “The Apprentice,” broken into pieces, said Officer Ray Brown, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department.
The suspect’s actions were caught on surveillance video, and soon after, he turned himself in to the police, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the Walk of Fame, said in a statement. The police said the vandal had pulled a pickax out of a guitar case, smashed the star — in the 6800 block of Hollywood Boulevard, near Highland Avenue — and then walked away, leaving the tool at the scene, according to NBC.
Mr. Brown confirmed that the suspect was being held in custody, but would not disclose the man’s identity. The destruction was caught on surveillance video, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which administers the Walk of Fame, said in a statement, and Mr. Clay later turned himself in to the police.
The Hollywood Historic Trust will seek to repair the star, and in the process, it will be covered up for a few days, according to the Chamber of Commerce. The Hollywood Historic Trust said it would repair the star, and by midday on Wednesday, workers had already started pouring in new terrazzo-stone powder, that, once set, would be polished, according to the Atlantic.
To get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, people must apply to the Chamber of Commerce, and demonstrate success or talent in the entertainment world. If selected, they pay $30,000, part of which goes to the Hollywood Historic Trust, and part of which covers the installation of the star.To get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, people must apply to the Chamber of Commerce, and demonstrate success or talent in the entertainment world. If selected, they pay $30,000, part of which goes to the Hollywood Historic Trust, and part of which covers the installation of the star.
An estimate of the cost of the repairs was not immediately available.An estimate of the cost of the repairs was not immediately available.
This is the not the first time the star has been vandalized. A man attempted to remove the star by smashing it with a pickax and sledgehammer in October 2016, and pleaded no contest to felony vandalism in February 2017. He agreed to pay $4,400 for the damage, and was sentenced to three years’ probation and 20 days of community service.This is the not the first time the star has been vandalized. A man attempted to remove the star by smashing it with a pickax and sledgehammer in October 2016, and pleaded no contest to felony vandalism in February 2017. He agreed to pay $4,400 for the damage, and was sentenced to three years’ probation and 20 days of community service.
In 2016, an artist built a six-inch “wall” around the symbol, with razor-wire and “Keep Out” signs. At other times, people have smeared ketchup on the star, painted it purple or decorated it with a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker.In 2016, an artist built a six-inch “wall” around the symbol, with razor-wire and “Keep Out” signs. At other times, people have smeared ketchup on the star, painted it purple or decorated it with a Bernie Sanders bumper sticker.
Mr. Trump’s star is not the only one that has been vandalized in recent years. In December 2014, someone wrote “rapist” in marker three times on Bill Cosby’s star.Mr. Trump’s star is not the only one that has been vandalized in recent years. In December 2014, someone wrote “rapist” in marker three times on Bill Cosby’s star.
In 2015, a petition sought to have the Chamber of Commerce remove Mr. Cosby’s star in light of allegations of sexual misconduct against him.In 2015, a petition sought to have the Chamber of Commerce remove Mr. Cosby’s star in light of allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
The chamber rejected the request, saying that the Walk is historically preserved. Despite protesters’ actions, a star has never been removed from the Walk of Fame.The chamber rejected the request, saying that the Walk is historically preserved. Despite protesters’ actions, a star has never been removed from the Walk of Fame.
“The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an institution celebrating the positive contributions of the inductees,” said Leron Gubler, president and chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce.“The Hollywood Walk of Fame is an institution celebrating the positive contributions of the inductees,” said Leron Gubler, president and chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce.
“When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State landmark,” Mr. Gubler said of Wednesday’s incident.“When people are unhappy with one of our honorees, we would hope that they would project their anger in more positive ways than to vandalize a California State landmark,” Mr. Gubler said of Wednesday’s incident.