A billboard touting the new Quentin Tarantino movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” has become the focus of attention in Los Angeles — but not for the intended reasons.
TMZ reports that a vigilante vandal doctored the billboard by placing photos of famous pedophiles Jeffrey Epstein and Roman Polanski on to the faces of the movie’s stars, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio.
The vandal also changed the top-billed actors’ names listed on the billboard along with the title of the advertised movie to read, “Once Upon a Time in Pedowood.”
Tarantino billboards hijacked in L.A. to slam Epstein, Polanski and "Pedowood" https://t.co/MDmGnMlGkg pic.twitter.com/wNSQF7V3LL
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 26, 2019
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the altered billboard stood on the corner of La Cienaga and Pico in a heavily-trafficked part of Los Angeles. The report indicates additional advertisements for the movie had been altered, including ads at bus stops.
A performance artist by the name of Sabo reportedly took responsibility for the billboard, saying that he wanted to call out Hollywood culture for embracing Polanski, who has continued a successful career as a director after fleeing the country just before he was to face a judge on charges that he raped an underage girl. Epstein is less directly involved in the entertainment business, but has been known to socialize with high-profile celebrities and politicians. He is currently in jail facing federal sex trafficking charges.
“I felt they should all share a billboard to highlight a decades-old problem that has plagued Hollywood for decades: the abuse of children,” Sabo told the Hollywood Reporter.
“Once Upon a Times in Hollywood” explores the notorious Manson murders of 1969. Polanski was married to one of the victims, actress Sharon Tate, who was eight months pregnant when she was slaughtered at their rented home on Cielo Drive while Polanski was overseas.
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[Feature Photo: Jeffery Epstein/New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP; Roman Polanski/Arthur Mola/Invision/AP]
