Someone Defaced Lebron James’ Mural Outside a Venice Restaurant

LA graffiti artist Jonas Never revealed a tribute mural on the Venice Baby Blues BBQ on July 7, only to find it defaced by an unhappy Laker fan a day later. Never immediately fixed the mural, but many were left wondering who perpetrated the crime.

While there are many unhappy about the Lakers’ newest player, some took their rage to a new level when a Laker fan profile called Lakers Fanbase/Ben Osaze offered a $300 reward to destroy the mural, while providing the Baby Blues BBQ address. The profile is no longer on Instagram, but another user captured a screenshot before the Osaze could remove it.

Baby Blues’ owners commissioned Never to beautify their Venice parking lot the same day James announced his LA move. Never still plans to paint a mural at the forthcoming Baby Blues BBQ in Echo Park, but detoured to the Westside to paint the mural within 12 hours. LeBron’s image was spray-painted over with messages that read, “No King,” “We don’t want you,” “LeFraud,” and “3-6.”

When reached for comment, Never shared the following:

“Some Laker/Lebron hater put a $300 bounty on the mural and some guy took him up on it. Apparently he reneged on paying him. Luckily it was an easy fix and took us less than half an hour to get it back in shape.”

Never’s mural hasn’t been touched since, but perhaps Baby Blues will have to install security cameras to prevent any further vandalism.

Baby Blues BBQ. 444 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice, CA

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