'Desperate for attention': Internet furious as police arrest protesters who threw soup at Mona Lisa

PARIS, FRANCE: A startling protest shattered the calm of the renowned Louvre Museum in Paris on Monday morning, January 29, as two environmental activists hurled tomato soup at the priceless Mona Lisa painting.

The brazen act stunned visitors and staff, provoking an immediate shutdown and evacuation of the room housing the masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, as reported by The Daily Mail.

Activists from French climate group Riposte Alimentaire vandalize Mona Lisa

It was two protesters from the French group Riposte Alimentaire who threw tomato soup at the precious painting.

The culprits, aged 24 and 63, demanded access to healthy and sustainable food as they defaced da Vinci's marvellous feat, which sits behind a protective glass.

Museum staff immediately evacuated the room as the protesters shed their outer layers to reveal T-shirts branding their eco-group. Police arrested the pair shortly after as the Louvre lodged an official complaint. The museum confirmed no damage occurred to the 16th century portrait, valued at approximately $1 billion.

"What is more important – art or the right to healthy and sustainable food?" the protesters asked the gathered crowd. They accused the French agricultural system of imperiling farmers and spurring hunger. The incident occurred amid ongoing protests by French farmers demanding better pay, taxes, and regulations.

Splattering tomato soup on the legendary Mona Lisa is only the most recent in a string of climate protests targeting iconic artworks across Europe. In February 2023, Just Stop Oil activists glued themselves to a copy of da Vinci's The Last Supper at the London's Royal Academy of Arts.

A few months before that, Germany's Letzte Generation threw mashed potatoes at a Monet painting in Potsdam. None of the works suffered permanent damage.

Internet condemns eco-activists' actions at the Louvre

The Internet swiftly condemned the eco-activists' actions at the Louvre, and users expressed their disapproval with distinct voices. One commenter on X remarked, "Climate protestors are always desperately seeking for attention. Some of them plan these actions to appear on TV or to go viral, this is so sad."

Another skeptic questioned the impact, stating, "Do they think it makes people listen to them? if anything it does the opposite." A third user opted for a succinct response, deeming the incident as "embarrassing," while another individual outright rejected the act, stating, "A big no for such nonsense."

Another participant in the online discussion took a firm stance, urging to "stop this nonsense." The tone of criticism continued as a sixth user added, "Do they think this will stop global warming?"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.