A famous architect of the stars designed it. A famous Hollywood producer took possession of it. A relative of a condemned international terrorist left it. And now a Mediterranean villa on a hill in Bel-Air has become the latest target of mysterious graffiti.
Last weekend, spray-paint-wielding intruders transformed the pink walls of this seven-bedroom mansion into a helter-skelter canvas of pop art, obscure quotes and political insinuations — the third hilltop home in Los Angeles to be vandalized in recent years. Was defaced within days.
Police detained a man at a two-acre property on Stone Canyon Road late Friday night, but the real estate agent who oversees the property said a security guard believed the uninvited visitor was merely visiting the home. Was taking pictures. He refused to press charges.
Police and the private security firm patrolling the lush green area near the Hotel Bel-Air said they had no clue who vandalized the house, much of it damaged both inside and outside the once-luxurious residence. The walls were covered with messages and drawings.
Graffiti covers the interior walls of the house, and there is spray paint and empty beer cans on the floor.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
On Sunday morning, empty paint cans and beer bottles were scattered around several rooms and in the front courtyard. The windows above the front door were broken. Others were made opaque with black and red paint. A beautiful stone archway was decorated with “hopes” painted black.
“They really completely destroyed everything. There is broken glass everywhere. It has been desecrated, vandalized,” said the agent selling the property, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It is very terrible. Terrifying.”
Two large homes in the Hollywood Hills recently received the same treatment. Property crimes follow well-publicized defacement city tall buildings with graffiti,
A guard who has been patrolling the neighborhood for years said he has chased other people from the property, most recently three young men who were shooting video Saturday night.
“They asked me, ‘Can we stop and take pictures?’ “The guard remembered. “I said to him, ‘Can I come to your house without an invitation and then stay?'”
The guard, who also requested anonymity, wondered whether the intruders wanted the photos “as part of some kind of competition or something.” He said that, several months ago, squatters had driven a moving truck up to the house, apparently ready to take up residence. He told them they had five minutes to get lost. they did.
The Bel-Air mansion is located at the end of a long road, shaded from the road by tall stands of trees and bamboo. Three Bel-Air neighbors said they had not heard about the vandalism until a reporter told them about it on Sunday.
Police and private security said they had no clue who was responsible for the vandalism.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
This vandalism marks a low point for those born into the luxuries of Hollywood.
Architect John Elgin Wolf designed the villa, which he helped build for many of the luminaries including Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Judy Garland and Errol Flynn.
Producer Arthur Freed lived there for years. He created such classic films as “Brigadoon,” “Showboat,” “An American in Paris,” “Gigi” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” He also co-wrote the song “Singin’ in the Rain” with Nasio Herb Brown.
Freed also served as an associate producer (uncredited) on “The Wizard of Oz” and, according to one account, was among those who fought to keep the song “Over the Rainbow” in the film. , because some filmmakers wanted to cut it.
Freed served as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He died in Los Angeles in 1973.
Ibrahim bin Laden, a member of the wealthy Saudi construction dynasty, purchased the Bel-Air home in the 1980s. He is the half-brother of Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks.
The real estate agent said bin Laden’s brother and his family used the Bel-Air property as a vacation home, but they had not lived there in more than 25 years. For a time, a manager lived in a guest house and looked after the property, but he fell ill and moved out several years ago.
The family considered leasing the house and hired a contractor to improve the bathrooms and kitchen. But the work crews only broke walls and never completed the work, the agent said.
Architect John Elgin Wolf designed the villa which is set behind tall trees on a two-acre property on Stone Canyon Road.
(Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times)
The home has been listed for sale since 2021, with asking prices as high as $28 million. It is currently listed for $21.5 million. A buyer who made an offer is deciding what to do after becoming aware of the graffiti damage, the agent said.
Messages written on interior walls included an expletive and “Osama!” Nearby, another message reads: “GW Bush helped you.”
The agent said he sent a video of the damage to his clients, who maintain many other homes around the world. “They are very, very upset,” she said. “I mean, it’s really devastating.” He also appealed to the public to understand that the owners have nothing to do with the mistakes of their famous relative.
At a nearby mansion, a man answering through the intercom said he had not heard anything about vandalism. At another gated mansion, a maid came on speaker phone and said she did not want to talk.
A prominent resident of Bel-Air had no doubt whom he blamed for the crime – the city’s political leaders.
“LA is woke. It’s broke, too,” said Fred Rosen, onetime chief executive of computer ticketing giant Ticketmaster. “The city is broken. There is crime, people are leaving and politicians are lying more than usual.”
Rosen, who lives not far from the graffitied mansion, blamed the L.A. County District. Atty. In particular, George Gascón addressed what he said was a lack of accountability for wrongdoing.
“We have a basic description of the consequences of bad behavior,” Rosen said. “I don’t know anyone — from the Valley, to the Westside, to Compton — who isn’t afraid, or concerned.”
