John Lennon’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star defaced

This post has been updated. See note below for details.

John Lennon’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was defaced with graffiti and other markings over the weekend, just days before what would have been his 73rd birthday on Wednesday.

Vandals scrawled messages, drew a smiley face and added other scribbling over the star on Vine Street near the Capitol Records Tower in Hollywood. The Beatles’ group star and the individual stars for the other members of the group were not damaged.

Peace activist Jerry Rubin, who spearheads an annual celebration at Lennon’s star on the musician’s birthday, said Monday that “the special annual public birthday celebration for John Lennon will take place as enthusiastically as ever” this year.

Ana Martinez, a representative for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which installs the Walk of Fame stars, told Pop & Hiss on Monday that “I notified the Hollywood Historic Trust last night. I am sure that they are going to look into it as we speak today. I am hoping that it will get cleaned up today.”

Update at 11:19: A representative for Capitol Records said Monday morning, “Though it is the Chamber’s responsibility, we were out there first thing this morning attempting to clean the star,” Universal Music Group’s senior director of adminstration Jim Kuha said. “We made some great progress and then the company that installs the stars for the WOF showed up and they took over. They’re going to strip and reseal the star which should take care of it. It will look great for Wednesday’s Lennon birthday celebration.” That event will take place at 6 p.m. in front of the Capitol tower at 1750 N. Vine St.

Update at 12:54 p.m.: Graffiti was removed and the star was returned to its pristine condition as of midday on Monday, Oct. 7. “We don’t mess around,” Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Martinez said. “I yelled out ‘Help, we need somebody,’ and there they were.”

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Twitter: @RandyLewis2