Hollywood Chamber Replaces Dolly Parton's 1984 Walk of Fame Star After Vandalism

Q: Will the newly replaced Hollywood Walk of Fame star finally be protected from further desecration?

No one can say the replacement will be fully protected. The Hollywood Historic Trust has confirmed the new star is being installed and polished for public viewing, but neither the Trust nor the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has announced any new permanent security measures such as barriers, cameras, guards or restricted access. What is clear is that the star is being restored quickly. The Trust said Parton’s star was already on its repair list because of earlier cracks, and after her death officials moved the timeline up to honor her legacy. Photos from the work site show caution tape around the installation area while the terrazzo cures, which may protect it temporarily during repairs. Longer term, the risk remains. Walk of Fame stars are embedded in a public sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard, making them inherently vulnerable to vandalism, memorial clutter and accidental damage. In this case, witness accounts said candles were kicked around, glass shards scratched the surface and flowers were later stolen, underscoring how open the site is. So the replacement addresses the damage, but there is no evidence yet that it will be shielded from future desecration in any lasting way. Unless officials add visible protections or stepped-up monitoring, the new star will likely face the same exposure as before.

3 articles · Updated · Hollywood Reporter · Sep 2

A new Dolly Parton star will be installed by Friday after fans reported Monday night that her Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque was defaced about a week after her death at 80.
Social media posts showed dark marks across Parton’s name, and one fan said a custodian described a woman kicking candles and scratching the star with broken glass before a man took flowers left as tributes.
Ana Martinez of the Hollywood Chamber said repairs had already been scheduled for Tuesday because the 1984 star had existing cracks, with the vandalism accelerating a full replacement.
Parton’s star sits at 6712 Hollywood Blvd., where mourners had been leaving flowers since the country icon died in Nashville after what her representatives called a brief battle with cancer.