Sydney Sweeney could face trespassing and vandalism charges as it’s reported she did NOT get permission to hang bras on the Hollywood sign for promotional stunt
Sydney Sweeney may face criminal charges after hanging a bra from the Hollywood sign as part of a promotional stunt for her new lingerie line.
In a new video shared by Sydney, 28, on her Instagram page, the actress and her crew are seen loading into a van with duffel bags full of underwear and heading towards the Hollywood Hills.
A smiling Sydney, dressed in all black, leads the way as the group scales the eight-foot perimeter fence and climbs up the hill towards the sign.
“We’re going to get caught at this rate,” the actress, illuminated by torches, says as she climbs over 150 feet of letters to hang rows of bras, before grinning and posing in front of the sign covered in underwear.
The video ends with the logo for SYRN, his new brand launched Wednesday and backed by the billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
While it was reported that the Hollywood star received permission to shoot, the authorities reportedly said that he may not have given permission for the activity seen in the video.
Sydney Sweeney could face criminal charges after hanging a bra from the Hollywood sign as part of a promotional stunt for her new lingerie line
In a new video shared by Sydney, 28, on her Instagram page, the actress and her crew are seen loading into a van with duffel bags full of underwear and heading towards the Hollywood Hills.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to the Hollywood Sign image and has stated that a ‘license or permit’ will be required from them to access the sign.
The sign, managed by the nonprofit Hollywood Sign Trust, is located on public land but is in a restricted area and climbing the structure is prohibited, according to the Hollywood Sign Trust website.
The site is often patrolled by the Los Angeles Police Department, Fire Departments, and park rangers to prevent tourists from entering, while security cameras and movement censors help keep the site safe.
Trespassing can result in a misdemeanor charge, which carries a fine of up to $1,000 or up to six months in prison.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce may file a police report for trespassing and/or vandalism, but has stated that they are still investigating this incident so far.
Steve Nissen, President and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, told ABC News:
‘The production featuring Sydney Sweeney and the Hollywood Sign was not approved by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and we had no prior knowledge of it.’
‘The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to the Hollywood Sign image, so anyone wishing to use and/or access the Hollywood Sign for commercial purposes must obtain a license or permission from the Hollywood Chamber to do so.’
Sydney, dressed in all black, leads the way as the group scales the eight-foot perimeter fence and climbs the hill toward the sign.
“At this rate we’re going to get caught,” Sydney, illuminated by torches, says as she climbs onto 12-foot letters to hang rows of bras, before grinning and posing in front of the underwear-covered sign
‘According to TMZ, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce did not issue any license or permit for the production in which Sydney Sweeney took part, and no one sought a license or permit from the Chamber for this production.’
‘We are still investigating how and with what authority (if any) the production accessed the site.’
The LAPD told the LA Times that a police report regarding Sweeney’s break-in has not yet been filed.
TMZ reported that the Sydney production received permission from FilmLA to film at the Hollywood Sign location, but did not have approval to touch, climb or physically alter the sign.
In an email obtained by TMZ and allegedly sent to the production company, Oda warned that filming the landmark for commercial use required a separate license that had not been sought or approved.
The email reads in part: “It has come to our attention that you and your team shot the Hollywood Sign last night for a production in conjunction with Persuasion Pictures.” ‘
Please note that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the intellectual property rights to the use of the Hollywood Sign image and that neither you nor the production company have requested or received permission to use the captured images for any commercial use.’
While the actress reportedly received permission to film, authorities reportedly said she may not have given permission for the activity seen in the video.
The sign, managed by the nonprofit Hollywood Sign Trust, is located on public land but in a restricted area and climbing the structure is prohibited.
The email also stated that FilmLA had previously informed the production team of the need to obtain licensing approval from the Chamber before filming the sign for promotional purposes.
The bras were reportedly removed shortly after filming ended, but some were allegedly left on the hillside.
Over the summer, Sydney found herself at the center of a heated scandal after appearing in an American Eagle ad with the slogan ‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’, a play on words meaning ‘great genes’.
That statement, and Sweeney’s blonde beauty look, sparked a heated debate online when it was released in July, with many accusing the company of promoting eugenics and white supremacy. Some even compared the ad to ‘Nazi propaganda’.
In a recent interview PeopleThe Euphoria star said remaining silent about the controversial ad only fueled the uproar.
The video ends with the logo for his new brand, SYRN, which launched on Wednesday and is backed by billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
“I was surprised by the reaction, to be honest,” Sweeney said. ‘I did this because I love jeans and the brand. I do not support the views some people choose to associate with the campaign.
‘Many people have assigned motives and labels to me that are not true,’ he added.
American Eagle took a strong stance against the backlash and maintained the campaign’s focus on personal style, confidence and authenticity.
“‘Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans’ is and always has been about jeans,” the company said in an Instagram post on Aug. 1. ‘Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate everyone wearing AE jeans with confidence, their own style. Great jeans look good on everyone.’
He emphasized that he is ‘against hate’ and ‘leading with kindness’, and the reason he is currently confronting this issue is to remove negative energy.
‘Anyone who knows me knows that I always try to bring people together. The star, who is busy promoting her new movie The Housemaid, starring Amanda Seyfried and directed by Paul Feig, said, “I am against hate and divisiveness.”
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce may file a police report for trespassing and/or vandalism, but has stated that they are investigating this stunt so far
‘My attitude in the past has been to never respond to press, negative or positive, but recently I have realized that my silence on this issue has only widened the gap rather than bridging it.
‘So I hope this new year will bring more focus to the things that connect us rather than the things that divide us.’
