Six people were arrested on Monday after climbing a steep terrain around the iconic Hollywood sign and strategically altering it to convey what they said was a breast cancer awareness message, according to the police.
“HOLLYBOOB”, the sign said briefly, with a large canvas with the letter “B” on it thrown over the “W” and a white line strategically positioned to make the “D” another “B”.
LAPD captain Steve Lurie, commander of the Hollywood area, said that LAPD security personnel observed the five men and a woman on video surveillance at around 1:15 pm. A police helicopter responded to the area and the crew was able to observe the group’s movement up the hill to a location on Mulholland Drive – where other officers and rangers found them in handcuffs.
The detainees were not publicly identified and could not be reached immediately for comment on Monday.
All six will be cited for trespassing and released, Lurie said. “There is no vandalism, because the plaque was not damaged,” he said.
The site is surrounded by Griffith Park, but is not accessible to the public and is maintained by the Hollywood Sign Trust.
A fund representative said he was grateful for the LAPD’s quick response.
“It is a pity that such an important icon for the city of LA is not being appreciated,” said Mark Panatier, the group’s president, who said that hacking to change the signal is wrong, no matter the alleged cause.
“This is an icon that exists to visually reinforce the importance of Hollywood, not just for the city of LA, but for the world,” said Panatier. “It needs to be maintained, it doesn’t need to be demoted.”
The signal has been changed before. On New Year’s Day 2017, it was changed to “HOLLYWeeD”.
Steve Alper, 54, a dentist who lives on the hill and owns the empty Mulholland property where the arrests were made, said he was going to lunch when he looked out the window and saw the letters “HOLLYBOOB”.
When he arrived at his property in Mulholland, the group – which appeared to have cameras and other recording equipment – was descending and the police were arriving, he said.
“It’s probably just a joke,” he said.
Alper said that people invade the property all the time, but most are frightened by guards or guards in megaphones.