Cattelan's Comedian Banana Stolen Again at Centre Pompidou-Metz

On May 30, 2026, a banana artwork called Comedian, created by Maurizio Cattelan in 2019, was stolen from the Centre Pompidou-Metz, where it was part of the "Dimanche Sans Fin" exhibit running until January 2027. The museum quickly followed its protocols to replace the piece. This theft comes after a summer 2025 incident when a visitor ate the banana, prompting the museum to file a complaint against the thief, emphasizing that such actions disrespect the exhibits. The thief's identity is still unknown, and no security footage has been shared. This marks the third time Comedian has been consumed, following events involving David Daturna in 2019, a student in Seoul in 2023, and Justin Sun in 2024, who bought it for $6.2 million. The museum reiterated that the work's true value lies in its authenticity certificate, not the banana itself.