The protest by a climate activist who smeared cake on the Mona Lisa’s protective case divided co-hosts on Tuesday’s edition of “The View” – with panelist Sunny Hostin amongst those that argued the stunt achieved its goal by sparking conversation in regards to the environment.
Videos circulating on social media showed a person disguised in a wig and wearing lipstick jumping out of a wheelchair on the Louvre in Paris on Sunday. Reports said the person initially tried to smash the bulletproof case.
“I feel they work. We’re talking about it,” Hostin said. “I feel climate change is something that we ignore a lot, not only on this country but all over the world. Obviously we’re talking about this issue.”
But “View” guest-host Tara Setmayer slammed the protest as “asinine” and said the person had failed to attain his goal.
“We’re talking in regards to the proven fact that he smeared, he defaced the Mona Lisa. I mean, it’s bulletproof protected, but…it’s a priceless murals,” Setmayer said.
“We’re talking about that versus what the problem is that he’s actually protesting. So I feel stunts like that don’t work in any respect,” she added.
MAN ATTACKS MONA LISA IN CLIMATE PROTEST: A person was arrested on the Louvre for throwing cake on the glass protecting the Mona Lisa, claiming he did it to protest the people destroying the planet — the co-hosts and guest co-host @TaraSetmayer react. pic.twitter.com/n5U58LWGnV
— The View (@TheView) May 31, 2022
Co-host Joy Behar joined Hostin in claiming the stunt sparked discussion about climate change, noting the person “didn’t destroy” or “touch the Mona Lisa.”
Fellow host Whoopi Goldberg disagreed, declaring that the vandalism, whatever its intention, had put the Sixteenth-century masterwork in danger.
“It’s any individual else’s art and the way dare you are trying to destroy any individual else’s art?” Goldberg said.
Cake was smeared on the famous artwork’s casing.via REUTERS
The Mona Lisa vandal was a climate activist.@lukeXC2002
Museum officials said the Mona Lisa wasn’t harmed through the stunt.TWITTER/@SARA_ALGABA via REUTE
Hostin remained firm in her defense.
“I don’t think it will probably be destroyed, because again, it’s on this bulletproof thing and he threw some whipped cream at it,” Hostin retorted.
Goldberg responded: “Listen, I totally get protests. I dig it. I don’t think it’s OK to destroy any individual else’s art with the intention to make your point.”
The Mona Lisa cake-smearing stunt sparked a debate on “The View.”The View
The protester was quickly wrestled to the bottom by security on the French museum. Officials on the Louvre said the Mona Lisa wasn’t damaged.
“Consider the Earth,” the disguise-clad protester said after being apprehended by security.
“There are people who find themselves destroying the Earth. Give it some thought. Artists let you know: consider the Earth. That’s why I did this,” he added.
