Repair work is underway on Dolly Parton’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star after it was defaced by someone scratching over her name. The vandalism occurred shortly after fans cleared away large memorial tributes left following her death at age 80, though officials noted the star was already scheduled for replacement due to prior cracks.
Vandalism Strikes the Walk of Fame Memorial
Dolly Parton’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame became the target of vandalism just one week after the legendary singer’s death at age 80. Following her death at 80 on Aug. 25, many fans paid tribute to the country music legend by leaving flowers and other memorabilia at the star, which was dedicated to Parton in 1984.
Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce said the star, which became the site of a large memorial of flowers, cards and other tributes following Parton’s death at age 80, had been cleared in anticipation of repair work that had been previously planned by the Hollywood Historic Trust, which maintains the stars. According to Martinez, Parton’s star was already on a list of those set to undergo repair work due to prior cracks. But after the star was cleared to make way for the work, somebody vandalized it, she said.
A woman named Lore Corona posted a video on social media Monday saying someone had vandalized the star by scratching over Parton’s name. She said she and her daughters were visiting the star and planned to leave flowers, but discovered it had been vandalized shortly before they arrived.
“Somebody decided to do this about 10 minutes before we got here,”
Lore Corona, visitor
Blogger Lore Corona posted a video of her and her daughter cleaning the defaced star by using their shoes to drag a towel and wipes around the sidewalk. The video shows the damaged star, which appeared to have Parton’s name extensively scratched. Corona stated in her video, It just doesn’t make any sense.
According to her post, a custodian at the scene told Corona that a woman kicked around candles that had been previously left there, and with the shards of one scratched the star.
Martinez told TMZ that a fan reported on Aug. 31 that someone had scratched the star and stole flowers. Blogger Lore Corona wrote in an Aug. 31 Threads post that a man subsequently came and stole the flowers that were there, leaving soon after they got there so she and her daughters could get to work.
Restoration and Replacement Plans Underway
Ana Martinez, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s senior vice president of media and talent relations, told Los Angeles news station ABC 7 on Sept. 1 that the star was already scheduled to be replaced because of existing cracks when it was vandalized. The damage occurred after tributes left by fans were cleared from the star ahead of the planned work.
Video posted by KNX News 1070 AM showed the red star was removed altogether, leaving a hollow square in the black speckled sidewalk. A few hours later, the Hollywood Historic Trust – which maintains the stars on the Walk of Fame – shared a photo of the restoration progress. A blank red star was placed in an otherwise empty square.
“The Hollywood Historic Trust and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce are proud to honor the legacy of Dolly Parton with a replacement of her star,”
Hollywood Historic Trust and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, via social media statement
Officials confirmed in the post’s caption that the new star will be available for viewing this Friday.
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