The statue of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell in front of the Museum of Pop Culture in his Seattle hometown has been defaced.
It was spotted last Thursday covered in white that may have been paint, but has yet to be confirmed. The museum said that they are "deeply pained" by this act that targets the memory of a beloved artist in Seattle (and around the world).
"We have notified appropriate authorities and have cordoned off the area so that professional conservators can assess the damage and develop a plan that will restore this important piece of public art without damaging it further."
Cornell's widow, Vicky had called it an act of "hate and destruction" on Instagram, saying that the vandalisation was not in the course of riots or protests but rather "a threat that was carried out by a single disturbed individual at 6am in an attempt to besmirch Chris's legacy."
She also added that her children were heartbroken when they heard the news.
Vicky also thanked fans who stood up to support and showed "immense love" after the news broke. Some made their way there in the middle of the night with supplies to try and clean the statue. "When we were told about it today I cried, my kids cried-your gesture was a reminder of how much more good there is out there and how you the fans show up for our beloved Chris," she said.
