Greenpeace Activists Steal Wax Statue of French President Emmanuel Macron in Protest
Greenpeace activists seize wax statue of Emmanuel Macron from Paris museum in protest against Russia.
In a dramatic act of protest in Paris, Greenpeace activists were photographed absconding with a wax statue of French President Emmanuel Macron from the renowned Grévin Museum. The operation unfolded on Monday as a pointed statement against France’s continued business ties with Russia, which the group claims are incompatible with a sustainable and ethical future for Europe.
The environmental organization issued a statement explaining its members had "borrowed" Macron’s likeness, asserting that the president does not deserve a place in the museum’s celebrated halls "until he has terminated French contracts with Russia and initiated an ambitious and lasting ecological transition on a European scale." The act was meticulously planned, according to a Greenpeace spokesperson, who described how the activists entered the museum as ordinary visitors and quickly located the room housing the Macron statue. The removal occurred rapidly and without confrontation, allowing the group to make their exit without incident.
Shortly after the museum heist, Greenpeace organizers transported the wax figure to the Russian embassy in Paris, where they staged a new protest. Activists unfurled a prominent banner denouncing ongoing deals between France and Russia, aiming to draw maximum public attention to what they view as contradictory policies: support for Ukraine coupled with substantial imports of Russian gas, chemical fertilizers, and uranium. Images circulated online showed two individuals carrying the life-sized replica of Macron through Parisian streets—a surreal scene that quickly went viral.
The Grévin Museum, internationally famous for its collection of over 200 celebrity waxworks, confirmed that its statue of Macron is one of several world leaders featured alongside figures such as former U.S. President Joe Biden. Museum officials have not commented on when or if the statue will be returned, noting only that the activists have signaled intentions to bring it back at an undisclosed time.
In response to criticism over mixed European policy towards Russia, Jean-Francois Julliard, the director of Greenpeace France, re-emphasized the need for consistency. "We do not deny the political, diplomatic, and financial support of France and Europe for Ukraine," Julliard stated, "but if we want to be coherent, we cannot, on the one hand, support Ukraine and, on the other, continue to import such massive amounts of gas, chemical fertilizers, and uranium."
This bold act by Greenpeace is part of a wider campaign pressuring European governments to cut commercial ties with Moscow and step up their commitments to climate action. The spectacle of the missing Macron effigy is certain to fuel debate across France about the intersection of energy policy, ethics, and international diplomacy, as well as the lengths to which activists will go to spotlight their cause.
