As thousands flocked to Chicago’s Grant Park for Lollapalooza, a small group of protesters could be seen standing near the city’s popular “Bean” sculpture, demanding the release of a man they said has been trapped inside for years.
“We’re calling for his immediate release,” the group could be heard saying as they handed out flyers urging supporters to call local Ald. Brendan Reilly’s office.
A social media account dedicated to their theory quickly garnered thousands of followers.
Reilly issued a statement Monday saying he is “happy to confirm that a man has not been trapped inside ‘Cloud Gate’ (a.k.a ‘the Bean’) for the past 21 years.” He noted that the “online hoax” has led to a heavy increase in calls to his office.
So where did the protest come from and what has been said about it?
Here’s what to know:
What were protesters saying?
Beginning last week, the group of less than a dozen people could be seen standing outside chanting “there is a man in the bean.”
“What do we want? The man to get out. When do we want it? Now,” the group was heard saying.
Signs called for the man’s release, and for officials to “unlock Cloudgate.” Handouts suggested the man’s existence was being kept a secret from Chicagoans.
The handouts claimed a baby was stolen during construction of the sculpture and has been held captive inside the Bean for two decades.
When asked what led them to believing a man was trapped inside the sculpture, the group told NBC Chicago’s Matthew Rodrigues “when the light hits it just right and you’re looking from the perfect angle, you can see a faint outline of a man.”
They urged people to call the local alderman’s office and demand the man’s release.
While the group was seen outside the sculpture for several days during Lollapalooza, they were not present as of Monday. Still, an Instagram account started last week for the group had already generated more than 20,000 followers as of Monday.
What are officials saying?
Reilly released a statement saying there is no man trapped in the sculpture and called it an “online hoax.”
“I am happy to confirm that a man has not been trapped inside ‘Cloud Gate’ (a.k.a ‘the Bean’) for the past 21 years. In fact, the man was freed years ago,” he said in a statement. “Further, we can neither confirm nor deny that Soldier Field is actually a flying saucer secretly relocated from Area 51 back in 2003.”
Reilly said while he appreciates public engagement, the protest “has led to a heavy uptick in calls” to his office.
“I appreciate lighthearted parody as much as the next guy and I’ve always welcomed public engagement. However, this online hoax has led to a heavy uptick in calls to my office,” the statement continued. “Unfortunately, answering the heavy volume of calls regarding this hoax is ultimately a distraction for my office from the real work we do for the 42nd Ward and City of Chicago each day.”