Violent Demonstrations Break Out At Louis Vuitton Show In Barcelona With Emma Stone & Sophie Turner In Attendance

A high-profile fashion event in Barcelona’s iconic Park Guell turned into a scene of chaos and violence as police clashed with protestors who had gathered to voice their opposition to the use of the public space for a private show.

The Louis Vuitton Cruise 2025 collection launch, attended by a star-studded guest list that included Sophie Turner, Ana de Armas and Emma Stone, was the target of days of protests by locals who accused the organizers of “privatizing” the historic park. As the fashion elite gathered inside, baton-wielding police officers faced off against hundreds of demonstrators outside in a confrontation that quickly escalated.

Footage from the scene showed protestors being beaten by the police while some in the crowd retaliated by throwing projectiles. The protests included a parody fashion show, with demonstrators strutting down a makeshift catwalk in the street, one wearing a black coat emblazoned with the slogan “ACAB” – shorthand for “All Cops Are Bastards.”

The violent clashes came after reports that the iconic stairs of Park Guell, which opened in 1914, had been damaged in the preparations for the high-profile fashion event. A single arrest was also reported amid the chaotic scenes.

Barcelona City Council attributed the damage to a “human error” in the event preparations and assured repairs were underway.

The Consell Veïnal del Turó de la Rovira, a local neighborhood council, criticized the city’s event handling and posted on X, “We want to report that in less than 24 hours of work for the Louis Vuitton parade in Park Guell, a piece of stairs has already been damaged.” 

The Louis Vuitton show was one of several organized by the luxury brand to coincide with the 37th America’s Cup, which is being held in Barcelona this year. The presence of LVMH owner and CEO Bernard Arnault, the world’s richest man according to Forbes, only added to the star power and controversy surrounding the event.

The incident underscores the ongoing tensions between the fashion industry’s pursuit of exclusive experiences and the public’s desire to protect shared cultural spaces.