Old Graffiti Misattributed to Anonymous Artist Banksy Goes Viral Amid 2024 Paris Olympics

Misbar investigated the viral photo and found the claim to be misleading.

This street graffiti is not recent, has no connection to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and was not painted by Banksy.

Old Graffiti of Unknown Artists Spread Amid the 2024 Olympic Games

Contrary to social media’s false circulation of the graffiti, Misbar’s team found that the graffiti is unrelated to the recent Paris Olympic Games and was not created by the famed, anonymous artist Banksy. 

Misbar traced the graffiti back to 2012, when it appeared on LDNGraffiti, an English-based blog dedicated to graffiti, street art, and stickers. The original post, dated October 13, 2012, was authored and photographed by a user named 'Pure Evil.'

Furthermore, Misbar's investigative team compared the signature in the circulating photo with Banksy's known signature and found them to be entirely different. The circulating graffiti is signed with the name "pure evil," which matches the username of the individual who originally uploaded the image to the LDNGraffiti website.

Misbar’s investigative team also conducted a thorough search on Banksy’s signature and discovered a BBC story published in May 2022, which reported that a T-shirt signed by the anonymous street artist Banksy had raised £12,000. This further confirmed the discrepancy between Banksy’s authentic signature and the one found on the circulated graffiti.

Who Is Banksy?

Banksy’s identity has remained one of the art world's most enduring mysteries since he gained fame in the 1990s. The secrecy surrounding his persona has fueled rampant speculation.

Renowned for his graffiti, which often carries anti-authoritarian and anti-war messages, Banksy has left his mark on buildings worldwide. Despite his global fame, his true identity remains hidden.

In the 2000s, as he seemingly relocated to London, Banksy transitioned from freehand designs to stenciling, enabling him to create his pieces more quickly. His unique blend of street art and high art has since captivated both the public and the wealthy elite, leading to exhibitions across Britain and abroad.

Banksy’s works frequently feature recurring motifs like rats, police, and children. His latest piece, a rhinoceros mounting a parked car, was recently discovered on a wall in an industrial area of Charlton, southeast London, adding to his ever-growing portfolio of public art, including notable works on the barriers of the West Bank.

Olympic Rings Symbolism

The Olympic logo, featuring five interlocking rings, is one of the most globally recognized symbols. Introduced in 1913 by the International Olympic Committee, the rings—blue, yellow, black, green, and red—are arranged on a white background. They made their official debut at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.

According to Rule 8 of the Olympic Charter,  “The Olympic symbol expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.” The five continents represented are Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.

The colors of the rings, set against a white background, symbolize the unity of the world's nations, as every country’s flag contains at least one of these colors. In addition, the interconnected rings signify the coming together of athletes from around the globe to compete, highlighting the unifying spirit of the Olympic Games.

Controversies Spread Amid Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Following the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics on August 11, several controversies emerged. 

"Paris 2024 is committed to combating all forms of discrimination, which are in every way contrary to the Olympic and Paralympic values," an Olympic spokesperson said in a statement. "We would like to remind everyone that the Games are a time for harmony and tolerance." 

Among the most viral controversies were the Boxer Backlash, sexist remarks, the spying scandal, a contaminated river, the opening ceremony, and the hijab ban. Despite these challenges, Paris bid farewell to the Olympics with a closing ceremony, where Tom Cruise headlined the event, emphasizing the importance of protecting the spirit of the Games.

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