Iconic Hollywood Sign Changed to Read 'Hollyweed'

Story:

Iconic Hollywood Sign Changed to Read “Hollyweed”

Other Versions

Hollywood Sign Vandalized to Read “Hollyweed”

Picture Showing Iconic Hollywood Sign Changed to Read 'Hollyweed' — Iconic Hollywood Sign Changed to Read ‘Hollyweed’

Analysis:

A picture story shared heavily online, especially on social and image sharing websites, claims to show that the Iconic Hollywood sign in Los Angeles was Changed to read “Hollyweed” during the New Year’s Eve. While some viewers thought the picture is photoshopped, it is a fact that someone managed to change the iconic Hollywood sign.

On 1st of January 2017, during the New Year’s Eve, a vandal, who police think is probably a man, climbed the mountain around midnight and laid two white and black tarps over the O’s in ‘Hollywood’ sign to make them look like E’s and read ‘Hollyweed’. The “Hollyweed” sign surprised many viewers on New Year’s Day, and remained up until around 11 a.m., when authorities took down the tarps used to change the lettering. A close-up photograph of the sign showed the tarps used by the vandal.

Prankster Identified?

The security-camera footage between midnight and 2 a.m. local time showed someone dressed full in black, and could not be identified because it was reportedly dark and raining. Police think the person is likely a prankster or “thrill seeker,” investigating it as a misdemeanour trespassing. However, according to TMZ website tmz.com, Zach Fernandez, who goes by the name “jesushands” on social media, may be the prankster behind changing Hollywood sign to Hollyweed. It’s because one black tarp on last ‘O’ in Hollywood lettering reads Jesus Hands, and because Zach Fernandez, a videographer and editor, seems to take credit of the act on Instagram.

Not First Time

Interestingly, this is not the first time vandals have altered the Hollywood sign, it was changed to read “Hollyweed” back in 1976, when Danny Finegood, a Cal State Northridge art major, used curtains to pull off the same effect. At the time, it was changed to celebrate loosened Marijuana laws in the state of California, and this time on New Year’s Eve, it happened presumably in celebration of the full state-level legalisation of Marijuana in the state. Not to mention, over the several past years, for various reasons including film promotion, political protest and a visit from the Pope, the HOLLYWOOD sign has been changed to read OLLYWOOD, HOLYWOOD, OIL WAR , PerotWood, GO NAVY, RAFFEYSOD, FOX, CALTECH, GO UCLA, SAVE THE PEAK.