Six trespassers were arrested by the Los Angeles County Police Department (LAPD) after they broke in to the area surrounding the iconic Hollywood sign and altered the sign so that it read "Hollyboob" until the police arrived and fixed the sign and arrested the trespassers.
The police reported that it appears that the intent of the alteration of the sign was part of attempt to raise awareness of Breast Cancer. Of course, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is not until October, but apparently these trespassers felt that it needed even more awareness. That is, naturally, if we believe that that was the actual motive behind their actions and not just something that have decided to use in case they were caught.
LAPD Captain Steve Lurie announced the arrests on Twitter, "A few hours ago, a group attempted to vandalize the Hollywood sign. Los Angeles landmarks are precious to those of us at LAPDHollywood and this was way uncool (not to mention the terrain is quite steep & dangerous). Hollywood patrol officers have arrested all six individuals."
The Hollywood sign was first erected in 1923 as part of an advertisement for a new real estate development in the Hollywood Hills called "Hollywoodland." In fact, the sign initially read "Hollywoodland." The sign was covered with light bulbs and was featured with a spotlight. The whole project cost $21,000 in 1923 dollars. The as campaign was only meant to last a year and a half, but as Hollywood became such a major tourist industry as the film industry in the area exploded in popularity, the sign became an icon of the area and was kept up permanently. However, the sign was not designed to last that long and so the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce cut a deal with the City of Los Angeles Parks Department to maintain the sign in exchange for dropping the "Land" from the sign.
The signs were still not made out of lasting material, so by the 1970s, the sign was dilapidated. Hugh Hefner spearheaded a campaign to build a new sign out of lasting steel. Starting in 1976, the sign has been a constant target of pranks and other alterations to the sign (like when Paramount paid Los Angeles tens of thousands of dollars to let a character from the animated film, Cool World, to be placed on the D in the sign).
Other activist groups have altered the sign for similar awareness purposes, like a 2017 alteration to "Hollyweed" in honor of California legalizing marijuana use.
Bojack Horseman fans are familiar with how the whole area was renamed "Hollywoo" after the D in the sign was taken down in an early episode of the show.
Trespassing fines are typically between $75-250 in the area, but due to the alteration, larger fines are expected to be handed out.
Via Deadline
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