Despite calls to remove the stars of such controversial figures as Donald Trump and Bill Cosby from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce remains insistent that no stars have ever been — or will ever be — removed, regardless of circumstance.
In a statement issued today, Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Leon Gubler says the organization has “received inquiries asking whether we are planning to remove the stars of Donald Trump and Bill Cosby. The answer is no. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a registered historic landmark. Once a star has been added to the Walk, it is considered a part of the historic fabric of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Because of this, we have never removed a star from the Walk.”
This stance is nothing new. The statement also cites a quote from the late Johnny Grant, known as the “honourary mayor of Hollywood,” who chaired the Walk of Fame Committee for decades.
“Stars are awarded for professional achievement to the world of entertainment and contributions to the community,” said Grant when asked the same question. “A celebrity’s politics, philosophy, irrational behaviour, outrageous remarks or anything like that have never been cause to remove a Walk of Fame star.”
