Man climbs KTLA tower in Hollywood holding ‘Free Billie Eilish’ sign
Vivian Chow
A man scaled the KTLA news tower in Hollywood on Tuesday, drawing a large crowd and disrupting traffic for several hours before finally climbing down.
Crews from the Los Angeles Fire Department received reports of the incident around 6:32 p.m. on 5800 West Sunset Boulevard.
The man was seen sitting about 30 feet up the tower and straddling the KTLA marquee while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish.”
At one point, he was seen playing an electric guitar. Officials called the man a “protestor” but it’s unclear what exactly he was protesting. The handwritten sign had another message on the back saying, “MK ultra sex slaves Donald Marshall clones.”
A large inflatable airbag was positioned below the tower as crews tried to remove the man safely. He was uncooperative and, at one point, told officers he would come down in 20 minutes, but remained on the tower for over three hours.
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
Bystanders watch as a man climbed the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
Bystanders watch as a man climbed the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
A man was seen climbing the KTLA 5 radio tower in Hollywood while holding a sign that read, “Free Billie Eilish” as authorities worked to remove him on April 25, 2023. (KTLA)
1 / 19
Crowds gathered across the street to watch the standoff unfold. Power was shut off to the tower and the electronic marquee, and police propped up a ladder for the man.
At around 9:30 p.m., he finally climbed down on his own.
He was arrested without further incident and faces charges of trespassing, according to LAPD.
