Downtown LA’s Kobe Bryant Mural Defaced Again—Community Pushes Back
Straight to the point: Downtown Los Angeles woke up to fresh vandalism on the city’s most iconic Kobe Bryant mural, and it’s striking a nerve. Early on June 4, passersby spotted bold black spray-paint slashes across the Lakers legend’s face in the famed Ninth and Grand tribute, originally painted in February 2020. TMZ first flagged the incident, while ABC7 captured on-scene footage of volunteers scrubbing away the latest damage. This marks at least the third act of defacement in the past 18 months, with prior tagging episodes recorded in August 2023 and January 2024, according to the Los Angeles Times.
City officials, citing a statement to NBC Los Angeles, confirmed the Los Angeles Police Department has launched a vandalism probe, though no arrests have been made. Councilmember Kevin de León, in remarks reported by the Times, condemned the act as “an insult to Kobe’s memory and to this community that has poured its heart into preserving his legacy.” He pledged to fast-track installation of protective anti-graffiti coating and 24/7 infrared cameras in the Arts District, where the tribute anchors a growing memorial corridor near Crypto.com Arena.
Fans rallied instantly on social media, trending #MambaForever and sharing images of volunteer crews armed with biodegradable cleaners from the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles. “This mural is more than paint on brick—it’s a symbol of Los Angeles resilience,” proclaimed street art advocate Marisol Rivas in an Instagram Story reposted by People magazine. Local business owners along Ninth Street reported a wave of solidarity messages, with several offering refreshments to cleanup crews throughout the day.
Art conservators warn that repeated scrubbing can damage the mural’s original acrylic layers. The Mural Conservancy advises application of sacrificial graffiti film as a buffer—a solution currently under review by the city’s Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA). A DCA spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that emergency funding has been earmarked for long-term preservation, including UV-resistant varnish and community-volunteer workshops on heritage mural care.
This latest defacement reignites a broader debate over public art protection in L.A. With dozens of murals commemorating Bryant—spanning collaborators from LA Street Art Collective to national artists like D*Face—residents are questioning whether existing safeguards are enough. Vandalism of cultural landmarks isn’t a new challenge here, but targeting the late NBA icon, who perished alongside his daughter Gianna in 2020, carries particular weight.
Vandals may think they’re masking a face, but L.A. keeps its legends alive. Community leaders and fans are already planning a weekend repaint effort, which TMZ reports could involve surprise guest volunteers from the Lakers organization itself. And there you have it—draw your own conclusion about what happens when art, memory and civic pride collide next.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, ABC7, Los Angeles Times, NBC Los Angeles, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
