Actress Sydney Sweeney drew widespread attention after being filmed climbing the Hollywood sign at night to hang bras as part of a promotion for her upcoming lingerie collection. The footage, captured recently, sparked controversy because the stunt took place without permission from the controlling entities.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which holds the intellectual property rights to the sign, confirmed that neither they nor the nonprofit Hollywood Sign Trust were informed about the event prior to seeing the video. Officials emphasized the stunt was not authorized and raised concerns about the legality of the act.
Official Statements Condemn Unauthorized Use of the Sign
Steve Nissen, chief of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, issued a statement clarifying that any commercial activity involving the Hollywood sign requires formal licensing.
“Anyone intending to use and/or access the Hollywood Sign for commercial purposes must obtain a license or permission from the Hollywood Chamber to do so,”
he said.
Nissen further explained,
“The production involving Sydney Sweeney and the Hollywood Sign, as reported by TMZ, was not authorised by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce nor did we have prior knowledge of it.”
He also added,
“We did not grant a license or permission of any kind to the production… nor did anyone seek a license or permission from the Chamber for that production.”
Details of the Incident and Legal Context
Video footage showed Sydney Sweeney climbing the large “H” of the Hollywood sign, accompanied by a small crew who filmed her stringing bras across the landmark. Although the team did secure a general filming permit from FilmLA for the area, this did not cover filming of the sign itself, which entails additional licensing and fees. The Chamber uses proceeds from these licenses to maintain the sign, which is typically off-limits to the public.
According to Los Angeles Police spokesperson Officer Tony Im, no police report has been filed so far that might trigger a trespassing investigation or prosecution review related to the stunt.
Historical Incidents of Sign Alterations and Trespassing
The Hollywood sign, constructed in 1923 and donated to the city in 1944, has been altered multiple times despite restrictions. The most famous incident occurred on New Year’s Day 1976 when a college student changed the letters to Hollyweed, coinciding with California’s change in marijuana laws. A similar prank was repeated in 2017, leading to an arrest on trespassing charges.
Other notable alterations include a 1987 Caltech student prank that transformed the sign to read Caltech. More recently, in February of this year, a man was arrested after climbing the letter “D” during a social media promotion. These cases demonstrate the consistent challenges authorities face in protecting the landmark.
Sydney Sweeney’s Previous Promotional Controversies
For Sydney Sweeney, this is not the first time her promotional activities have sparked debate. The Christy star faced criticism for a jeans ad campaign slogan in the past, which led to backlash from parts of the public.
Sweeney addressed that controversy when speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, stating,
“(doesn’t) support the views some people chose to connect to the campaign. Many have assigned motives and labels to me that just aren’t true.”
What Happens Next Amid Legal and Public Scrutiny
While representatives for Sweeney have yet to respond to requests for comment from the Los Angeles Times, the unauthorized stunt highlights ongoing tensions around the use of the Hollywood sign for commercial purposes. The event may prompt closer scrutiny from city authorities and potentially lead to legal consequences if a trespassing complaint is filed. It also underscores the strict regulations that govern one of Los Angeles’s most recognizable landmarks and the sensitivity surrounding its preservation.
