A West Los Angeles billboard for the movie “American Sniper” was vandalized with the word “murder” as a nasty hero-versus-villain battle waged on social media.

Los Angeles police say the billboard at Wilshire Boulevard and Bundy Drive is now covered, but at one point the movie ad displayed the added word “Murder!” in red paint and capital letters.

More American Sniper backlash https://t.co/UOovqhAOwp pic.twitter.com/y34D06VTeH— People magazine (@peoplemag) January 20, 2015

The vandalism was not reported, so police will not investigate the incident, police said.


The Clint Eastwood-directed film is about U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, one of the most lethal snipers in American history.

Some questioned on social media whether Kyle should be presented as a hero in film. Comments by filmmaker Michael Moore and actor Seth Rogen created a strong, often obscenity-laden backlash on social media.