A mural of Kobe Bryant is shining on CA unobscured once again … TMZ Sports has learned HBO ordered the immediate removal of a billboard covering Mamba art in L.A. on Tuesday.
Our sources tell us shortly after an HBO ad was placed over a piece of artwork dedicated to the Lakers legend this week … officials at the company called to have it taken down.
We’re told HBO was NOT aware the billboard would be placed over the Kobe art … and once it saw it was concealed, the network realized the look had to go ASAP.
Where there used to be a Kobe mural, there’s now an HBO billboard.
It doesn’t even fully cover the Kobe painting. https://t.co/vOj0AW8lr5 pic.twitter.com/vhpaUYzYqx
— patrick (@muldowney) June 16, 2020
@muldowney
Fortunately, we’re told the signage was ripped away in a swift manner … and the Kobe artwork was NOT damaged in any way.
It’s good news for Los Angelenos … who have taken every precaution necessary to preserve public Kobe tributes since the 41-year-old tragically died in a helicopter crash in January.
Remember, even amid chaos, rioting and looting during protests earlier this month … not a single Mamba mural was touched.
However, we’re told this specific piece — which is located near the famous Grove shopping center in West Hollywood — could be obstructed by ads from time to time in the future.
Our sources say the vendor who owns the mural has plans to hang billboards over it eventually — so long as the Kobe art goes undamaged and can be seen by all after the campaigns end.