Overview

• The Man in Bean coalition continues to maintain its Instagram campaign and insists a man is trapped inside Cloud Gate despite offering no verifiable evidence.
• Alderman Brendan Reilly issued an official denial that anyone is inside the sculpture and said his office has been overwhelmed by hoax-related inquiries.
• Protesters have handed out flyers, staged demonstrations at Millennium Park and mounted subway outreach to press for the alleged captive’s release.
• Artists such as Stuart Semple and businesses including Lou Malnati’s have joined the trend with satirical stunts and social-media jabs.
• Analysts warn the episode illustrates how performance-style protests and viral misinformation can impose real-world administrative costs.