Christopher Walken Erases Real Banksy Mural During TV Show Filming

During the filming of the BBC series 'The Outlaws' in Bristol, actor Christopher Walken painted over an authentic Banksy mural depicting a rat standing on a spray can. The scene, scripted for the show, shows Walken's character Frank asking his probation officer Diane (Jessica Gunning) whether to paint over the graffiti, to which she replies 'less talk, more painting.' A spokesperson for 'The Outlaws' confirmed the artwork was an original Banksy and that Walken destroyed it during filming. The incident occurred in Bristol, Banksy's hometown. Artnet News speculated the destruction might have been orchestrated with Banksy's approval, but the artist's team did not respond. The Sun reported that Banksy is a fan of Walken and appreciated the show being filmed in his city. The event echoes Banksy's history with provocative destruction, notably his 'Love is in the Bin' which sold for €16 million at Sotheby's in October 2021, after the original 'Girl with Balloon' was shredded in a performance. A Banksy exhibition is scheduled to open soon at Milan's Stazione Centrale.