Chicago city officials have been forced to publicly deny bizarre allegations that a man has been trapped inside the famous Bean sculpture for over two decades, after a satirical protest movement went viral and flooded government offices with concerned phone calls. The protesters claim that someone has been stuck inside Chicago's iconic Cloud Gate sculpture, commonly known as "the Bean," for the past 21 years.
Video footage circulating on social media shows a group of demonstrators gathered outside the reflective stainless steel sculpture in Millennium Park, demanding the immediate release of the allegedly trapped individual. One protester made the outlandish claim that "in 2004 Anish Kapoor, the chief architect of the bean, stole a baby and put that baby inside the bean." The protesters are calling for what they describe as the "immediate release of the man trapped inside the bean."
The accusations targeting Kapoor, who is actually the renowned artist behind the sculpture rather than an architect, appear to be part of an elaborate satirical stunt that has gained significant traction online. However, the prank has had unintended consequences for Chicago's municipal government, as concerned citizens have been bombarding city offices with phone calls seeking clarification about the supposed trapped individual.
City Councilman Brendan Reilly, a Chicago Alderman, was compelled to address the situation publicly after his office was inundated with inquiries. While he acknowledged the humorous nature of the protest, Reilly expressed frustration that the high volume of calls was interfering with legitimate city business. "I am happy to confirm that a man has not been trapped inside Cloud Gate, aka the Bean, for the past 21 years," he stated to local media, adding that he appreciated the "light-hearted parody" but needed people to stop overwhelming city phone lines.
Despite the disruption to city operations, many Chicago residents appear to be enjoying the creative prank. Local reactions have been largely positive, with some people expressing delight that others are finding unique ways to engage with the city's public art. One resident commented that it makes her happy to see people enjoying themselves, while another described the stunt as "so unique."
Cloud Gate, which was actually completed and unveiled to the public in 2006, is one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks and a major tourist attraction in Millennium Park. The massive sculpture is constructed from 168 polished stainless steel plates seamlessly welded together and weighs approximately 100 tons. Kapoor's design was inspired by liquid mercury, creating the sculpture's distinctive reflective, bean-like shape that mirrors the Chicago skyline and surrounding park. The sculpture stands 33 feet high, spans 42 feet wide, and stretches 66 feet long, making it physically impossible for anyone to be trapped inside its solid steel construction.
