Mona Lisa Cake Attacker Explains why He Did It

An art vandal has spoken out after defacing the priceless portrait of Mona Lisa by smearing cake across her face at the Louvre museum in Paris.

The incident happened in front of a crowd of art fans on Sunday, when a man reportedly disguised as an elderly lady in a wheelchair leapt up to attack the world’s most famous painting.

The portrait, by Leonardo da Vinci, is covered with a sheet of protective glass so was not damaged. Footage showed museum staff frantically wiping thick cream away as visitors took photos on their cell phones.

A museum visitor shared footage of the aftermath, tweeting as @lukeXC2002: “Maybe this is just nuts to me but [a] man dressed as an old lady jumps out of a wheel chair and attempted to smash the bullet proof glass of the Mona Lisa. Then proceeds to smear cake on the glass, and throws roses everywhere all before being tackled by security.”

The Twitter user posted another video shortly afterwards, showing a young man being led away by security staff who were pushing an empty wheelchair beside him. He wore white jeans and a T-shift with an orange scarf. He also appeared to be wearing a black wig.

He raised his arms and shouted out in French as he was ushered away: “Think about the Earth, think about the Earth, there are people who are destroying the Earth, think about it! All the artists tell you think about the Earth, all artists think about the Earth, that’s why I did this. Think about the Planet!”

His comments sparked reports that the stunt may have been carried out as a climate change protest.

Newsweek has asked the Louvre for comment.

This is a developing story.

Visitors take pictures in front of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre Museum in Paris in October, 2019. A man smeared cake across the famous painting at the weekend. Getty Images