Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts and Entertainment

Donald Trump's Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star Has Been Destroyed

2016_10_hollywooturmp.jpg
In better times (Getty Images)
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Update: We dropped by the destroyed star.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame star that Donald Trump received in 2007 has been severely damaged. The man responsible, James Otis, dressed as a city construction worker and tried to dislodge the star with a sledgehammer and pickaxe around 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday, according to Deadline. The outlet spoke to Otis who said his original intentions were not to destroy it, rather this was an extremely poor attempt to REMOVE the star to raise money through an auction for women who have come forward with their stories of Trump sexually assaulted them.

That's because Trump, who has denied the allegations, has threatened to sue the women (the same way his campaign has threatened to sue publications that print damning allegations).

The video (which you can watch here) doesn't seem to show any attempt to delicately dislodge the star. It is pretty cathartic to watch, however.

Support for LAist comes from

Deadline also noted the area was empty at the early hour, "There was no LAPD presence in the usually well patrolled tourist spot."

Stars are "awarded" after some lobbying and a $30,000 application fee. Earlier this year, Trump's star was defaced and even had a wall built around it.

()


Barron "Cyber" Trump, Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the dedication ceremony in January 2007 (Getty Images)

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist