Stars On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame That Face The Most Damage
A terrazzo star looks permanent, yet Hollywood Boulevard tells a different story up close.
Foot traffic, weather, street work, and occasional vandalism can leave even the most famous names looking scuffed, cracked, or patched over time.
Tourists hunt for photo ops, locals weave around crowds, and the sidewalk quietly absorbs thousands of steps every day.
Repairs happen, replacements get debated, and the contrast between glamour and grit becomes part of the Walk of Fame’s strange charm.
1. Donald Trump’s Star Gets Smashed (Again and Again)
Holding the record for most vandalized star in Walk of Fame history, this bronze marker has been destroyed with pickaxes and sledgehammers multiple times since 2016.
One attacker even dressed as a construction worker to blend in while demolishing it during the presidential campaign.
Repairs cost thousands each time, but the damage keeps coming back.
City officials have replaced the brass inlays so often they could probably do it blindfolded by now.
2. Bill Cosby’s Star Becomes A Protest Canvas
Following serious criminal allegations, this star transformed into a public message board for protesters armed with permanent markers and spray paint.
Unlike physical destruction, graffiti requires different cleaning methods that can still damage the terrazzo surface underneath.
Each defacement sparks debates about whether controversial stars should remain on the Walk at all.
Cleaning crews face an ongoing battle keeping this star presentable for the millions of tourists snapping photos daily.
3. Selena Quintanilla’s Star Hit Twice In One Month
Beloved Tejano music icon Selena saw her memorial star attacked twice during July 2024 alone, shocking her devoted fanbase worldwide.
The back-to-back incidents happened so close together that workers barely finished one repair before discovering new damage.
Fans quickly responded by leaving flowers and cleaning supplies, turning the vandalism into an impromptu tribute gathering.
However, the repeated targeting raised questions about whether someone specifically chose stars representing Latino culture.
4. Jenni Rivera’s Star Vandalized Right After Installation
Talk about bad timing. Regional Mexican music superstar Jenni Rivera’s star got hit with black paint during the same July 2024 vandalism wave, just months after its official unveiling ceremony.
The fresh installation made the damage especially heartbreaking for fans who had celebrated her posthumous honor with such joy.
Workers had to carefully match the original terrazzo color when repairing the barely-aged star.
This incident, combined with the Selena vandalism, prompted discussions about protecting newly installed stars with temporary barriers during their first vulnerable months on the sidewalk.
5. Bob Marley’s Star Chipped By Heavy Object
Reggae legend Bob Marley’s star suffered serious structural damage in October 2017 when someone dropped or threw a heavy object directly onto it.
Unlike surface graffiti, this attack cracked the terrazzo foundation and bent the brass star points out of shape.
Repairs required cutting out entire damaged sections, fabricating custom replacement pieces, and reanchoring everything to the concrete base underneath.
The technical complexity made this one of the most expensive single-star restoration projects in recent Walk of Fame history.
One love clearly doesn’t extend to everyone visiting Hollywood Boulevard, unfortunately.
6. Heinie Conklin’s Forgotten Star Gets Painted Over
Most tourists walking past probably don’t recognize this silent film actor’s name, but vandals didn’t discriminate when splashing black paint across multiple stars in July 2024.
Poor Heinie, a comedic actor from Hollywood’s earliest days, became collateral damage in a vandalism spree.
His star’s location near more famous names meant it got caught in the crossfire of someone’s spray paint rampage.
Restoration crews treated all affected stars equally, regardless of celebrity status or recognition factor.
7. Michael Jackson’s Star Suffers Mistaken Identity Attacks
Here’s where things get confusing. Two different Michael Jacksons have stars on the Walk, the legendary pop singer and a radio personality, but vandals keep attacking the wrong one.
The radio broadcaster’s star takes hits meant for the King of Pop, creating an awkward situation where an innocent marker gets damaged due to name confusion.
Workers have considered adding clarifying plaques to prevent future mix-ups.
Imagine having your star destroyed because someone couldn’t read the category icon distinguishing radio from recording. That’s Hollywood for you, folks.
