Paul McCarthy assaulted during FIAC sculpture installation in Paris

During the installation of a 24-meter green sculpture in Place Vendôme, Paris, American artist Paul McCarthy was physically assaulted by an unidentified individual. The attacker struck McCarthy three times while the artist was being interviewed. The assailant reportedly shouted that McCarthy's work, part of the FIAC art fair's public program, did not belong in the historic square. The individual's anger was also reportedly directed at McCarthy's non-French nationality. McCarthy has described the sculpture as an abstract work, acknowledging that some viewers might interpret it as a plug but emphasizing its abstract nature. The incident occurred in Paris, France, and was reported by Le Monde. The sculpture was created for the FIAC art fair's public program.