Hollywood’s famous sidewalk gets more than its share of scuffs, scratches, and broken stars. Some damage comes from everyday wear, while other marks are left on purpose.
The names below have appeared in reports or claims about damage, but there is no reliable ranking showing which stars suffer most. A few widely shared stories also need a closer look before being treated as fact.
1. Donald Trump: Repeated Attacks and Repairs
A sidewalk tribute became a regular protest site after its owner entered politics. Dedicated in 2007, Donald Trump’s star suffered major attacks with a sledgehammer in 2016 and a pickaxe in 2018.
Paint, stickers, and other messes have also drawn attention. Some demonstrations, such as a miniature border wall, were temporary installations rather than broken pavement.
Visitors should keep clear of damaged sections and let authorized crews handle repairs instead of attempting their own cleanup work.
2. Bill Cosby: Graffiti Amid Public Outrage
Anger over sexual assault allegations reached the pavement when Bill Cosby’s star was marked with accusations. Photographs and news reports documented graffiti calling him a rapist, making the landmark part of a much larger public debate.
His 2018 criminal conviction was overturned in 2021, a legal detail that should accompany historical accounts. Whatever someone thinks about an honoree, writing on a public landmark creates cleanup work and does not replace careful reporting about the underlying cases.
3. Bob Marley: A Costly Hammer Attack
Music fans found a painful sight in October 2017: deep damage across Bob Marley’s star. Reports described someone striking the tribute with a hammer, leaving the surface badly scarred rather than simply dirty.
The reported repair bill was about $3,000, showing how expensive one brief attack can become. A star’s colored surface and metal details need skilled attention.
Photographing damage from a safe distance is helpful; touching loose pieces or trying to smooth them is not.
4. Dolly Parton: Separate Wear From Rumor
A beloved singer’s name deserves better than an unchecked rumor. The supplied account links Dolly Parton’s star repairs to an alleged death in August 2026, but that claim should not be presented as established fact.
Claims about candle shards, scratches, and specific repairs also need reliable confirmation. Outdoor stars can develop cracks through age and use, but that general fact does not prove this story.
Enjoy the tribute without leaving candles, scraping tools, or sticky decorations.
5. Michael Jackson, Radio Host: Mistaken Identity
One famous name belongs to two very different sidewalk tributes. In 2018, Paris Jackson shared herself cleaning graffiti from the star honoring radio broadcaster Michael Jackson, not her father, the pop singer.
That timing matters: the cleanup happened before the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland, so blaming that film would be inaccurate. Look at the category emblem before identifying any star.
A microphone marks radio work, helping visitors avoid mixing up people who share the same name.
6. Mariah Carey: A Scratched Question Mark
A tiny symbol caused a surprisingly large repair problem. In January 2017, Mariah Carey’s star was reportedly scratched with a question mark near her name, shortly after her troubled New Year’s Eve television performance.
The timing encouraged speculation, but it did not establish the vandal’s motive. Unlike washable chalk, a scratch cuts into the material and may require professional restoration.
Fans can debate a performance online without leaving a permanent review on a shared public sidewalk.
7. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen: Fashion Protest
Two sisters share one star, which also became a target of anger over fur fashion. Their tribute was reportedly marked with an insulting slogan criticizing their use of animal fur.
The incident shows how a sidewalk honor can become a stand-in for arguments about a celebrity’s business choices. However, a slogan alone cannot establish who left it or which group was responsible.
Peaceful signs and lawful demonstrations make a point without leaving restoration crews another bill.
8. Ellen DeGeneres: Paint and Baseless Claims
Online rumors can spill into real places, including a television host’s sidewalk tribute. Accounts of damage to Ellen DeGeneres’s star include spray paint and an abusive accusation linked to baseless conspiracy claims.
Such writing is not evidence of wrongdoing and should never be repeated as fact. Reports about workplace complaints concern a separate issue and do not support those conspiracy allegations.
When sharing photographs, explain the context rather than letting a vandal’s message become the headline.
9. Jennifer Lopez: Black Paint on the Sidewalk
Black spray paint briefly hid part of a tribute celebrating a major entertainment career. Jennifer Lopez’s star was among those reported vandalized during a November 2018 incident involving several sidewalk honors.
Because multiple names were affected, readers should avoid assuming the attack reflected a personal dispute with her. Paint removal also requires care around brass and terrazzo.
Household solvents can worsen a stain or damage the finish, so cleaning should be left to qualified maintenance workers.
10. Michael Bublé: Damage Just After Dedication
The celebration had barely ended before trouble arrived. Michael Bublé’s star was reportedly spray-painted just four days after its November 2018 dedication, joining other stars damaged during the same incident.
That short gap made the news especially striking, but it does not prove he was singled out. Even a newly installed tribute remains exposed to everything happening along a busy sidewalk.
Check recent local updates before visiting, since cleanup barriers may temporarily block an otherwise accessible photograph.
11. Sofia Vergara: A Private Dispute Goes Public
A deeply personal legal dispute became a public sidewalk message in 2015. Sofia Vergara’s star was marked with a hashtag referring to the controversy over frozen embryos created with her former partner.
The graffiti reduced a complicated matter to a few painted words. It should not be treated as a fair account of the legal arguments or anyone’s rights.
Readers seeking context should consult reliable reporting, while visitors should leave the landmark free of messages and stickers.
12. Aretha Franklin: An Insult Over Fur
The Queen of Soul’s tribute has appeared in accounts of graffiti attacking celebrities who wore fur. Reports describe an insulting message on Aretha Franklin’s star, echoing criticism of her clothing choices.
Still, similar wording does not establish that a particular animal rights group carried out the damage. Keep that distinction clear when discussing the incident.
A performer’s music, fashion, and public image can invite strong opinions without turning a historic sidewalk into a place for permanent insults.
13. Sharon Stone: Cruel Words in Public
Fashion criticism took an ugly turn when Sharon Stone’s star was reportedly covered with an insult about her age and fur clothing. The wording attacked the person rather than explaining an animal welfare concern.
That difference matters, especially when younger readers encounter photographs online. Describe the damage without repeating every cruel word.
If you notice fresh markings during a visit, alert nearby staff or local authorities rather than confronting someone or trying to scrub the surface yourself.
14. Marilyn Monroe: When Admiration Leaves Marks
Admiration can leave scars when visitors treat a landmark like a souvenir shop. Accounts describe scratches and chips on Marilyn Monroe’s star, sometimes linked to people trying to take pieces home.
The specific claim that it has been patched at least five times needs a dependable maintenance record before publication as fact. Regardless of the total, prying at terrazzo destroys something everyone should enjoy.
Take a photograph instead, and leave every letter and fragment where it belongs.
15. Selena Quintanilla: Protecting a Fan Landmark
For devoted listeners, Selena’s star offers a place to remember a voice lost too soon. Claims about repeated chips, scratches, and stolen lettering deserve careful checking against reliable reports or maintenance records.
Without that evidence, they should not become a firm damage tally. What visitors can control is how they celebrate: avoid scraping decorations across the surface or attaching anything with glue.
A brief, respectful visit preserves the tribute for the next family coming to remember her.
16. Gal Gadot: A New Star Meets Protest
A new tribute can become controversial almost immediately. Following Gal Gadot’s March 2025 dedication, reports described graffiti crossing out her surname and stickers attached to the star amid political tensions.
Any claim about the person responsible or their precise motive needs evidence beyond the markings themselves. Stickers may look less serious than broken stone, but their glue can complicate cleaning.
Visitors can express their views through lawful protest while keeping the sidewalk safe and accessible for others.
17. John Lennon: Birthday Scribbles
October 9 should have brought birthday memories for John Lennon’s fans. Instead, in 2013, his Hollywood star drew attention after someone covered it with scribbles, drawings, and written messages.
Even words meant as tribute become vandalism when added without permission. A public memorial is not an open guestbook, and cleaning can take time away from other repairs.
Share a favorite lyric in a personal notebook or online post rather than writing directly on the star’s delicate surface.
18. Imogene Coca: Caught in a Wider Incident
Not every damaged star belongs to the celebrity making today’s headlines. Comedy pioneer Imogene Coca’s tribute was among five stars reportedly hit with black spray paint in November 2018.
Her inclusion suggests why guessing motives from a famous name can mislead readers. The Walk contains thousands of honors, and random damage can affect performers from very different eras.
Respecting quieter landmarks matters too, because each one helps tell the broader story of entertainment history to passing visitors.