Over the recent weekend, an attempt to alter the iconic Hollywood sign with the placement of a banner resulted in the arrest of six individuals, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. As reported by ABC7, the group was caught while trying to attach a banner to one of the sign's "O" letters, although the content of the banner was not revealed. The sign, which is safeguarded by gates and sensors, marks such actions as trespass, and police noted that all arrests occurred without incident.
Further information provided by CBS Los Angeles indicated that the police, working in conjunction with L.A. City Park Rangers responded to the scene, where social media posts later displayed images of the suspects attempting to install their banner and subsequently being handcuffed. The charges they may face have yet to be disclosed.
Adding to the narrative, a video posted to the social media platform X by Jake Hillhouse, also known by the handle @SolJakey, documents the entire episode from the purchase of supplies to their detainment by law enforcement. Hillhouse, a content creator and entrepreneur linked to the cryptocurrency platform Pump.fun, described their venture as an effort to advertise and stand out in history by altering the Hollywood landmark. "Step one, get supplies. Step two, and probably the hardest step, build the tarp. … Step five — well, this isn’t really a step — we all got arrested," Hillhouse stated in the video obtained by KTLA.
The video, which has gone viral since its posting, ends with the phrase "We changed the Hollywood sign… HOLLYPUMP." This publicity stunt is not an isolated incident; earlier this year, another cryptocurrency-based promotional activity took place at the same location, where an individual was apprehended after displaying a flag that promoted "Vigilante Token." The LAPD has not yet released details about the charges that Hillhouse and his companions may face. The event demonstrates a recurring theme of the famous sign being the backdrop for various attention-grabbing efforts, some culminating in legal repercussions.
