Why Was There Lingerie on the Hollywood Sign? U.S. Actress Faces Trespassing Controversy

Sydney Sweeney Faces Controversy Over Unauthorized Trespassing

Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney (29) has come under fire after it was revealed that she trespassed onto the iconic Hollywood sign in Los Angeles (LA) to film an advertisement for her own lingerie brand.

According to American entertainment outlets TMZ and People on January 26 (local time), Sweeney recently climbed the Hollywood sign structure on Mount Lee in downtown LA and performed a stunt by hanging a string of bras across the top of the sign.

Hollywood actor Sydney Sweeney. Photo by AFP News Agency

Sweeney released a video of the process through her Instagram account. The footage shows Sweeney and her production team filling a black duffel bag with underwear, driving to the location, hiking up the winding hillside toward the Hollywood sign, and then climbing the sign itself to drape bras over it.

It has been reported that Sweeney took these actions to film a promotional video for her upcoming lingerie brand.

The issue is that Sweeney did not obtain prior permission to physically access the Hollywood sign structure. While she received a filming permit for the Hollywood sign from FilmLA, which issues public location filming permits in the LA area, she did not receive permission to use the structure from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which owns the sign.

Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney is hanging underwear on the Hollywood sign structure in Los Angeles (LA), USA. Instagram

As a result, TMZ and People reported that Sweeney could face charges from the Chamber of Commerce for trespassing and attempted property damage.

Steve Nissen, President and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, stated, "No form of permission was granted for the video shoot involving Sydney Sweeney reported by TMZ, and no one requested permission from the Chamber for this production."

He added, "Anyone wishing to use or access the Hollywood sign for commercial purposes must obtain permission from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce."

Sydney Sweeney's representatives have not yet released an official statement regarding the incident.

Previously, in July of last year, Sweeney appeared in American Eagle's 'Good Jeans' commercial, which was criticized for allegedly promoting racism. American Eagle used the similarity in pronunciation between 'jeans' (denim pants) and 'genes' (genetic material) as part of a 'noise marketing' campaign.