Paul Bocuse's Statue Targeted in Lyon
The scene is enough to make anyone cringe. During the demonstrations on October 17, 2026 in Lyon, the statue honoring Paul Bocuse was removed from the Tourism Office and then vandalized, while the building was also set on fire. This act of destruction sparked a strong reaction from Jérôme Bocuse, son of the famous Lyon chef, in an open letter published on social media that garnered over 100,000 likes.
Based in the United States for 35 years, he makes no secret of his anger and disgust at this act. "Today, I saw my father's statue torn down and vandalized by thugs," he writes, before emphasizing an essential distinction: "Protesting is a right. Burning, looting, destroying, tarnishing the memory of the dead—that's a disgrace."
Jérôme Bocuse defends his father's legacy
Beyond the statue, it is the entire memory of the chef, who passed away in 2018, that his son intends to protect. He reminds us of the journey of a cook who dedicated his life to promoting French gastronomy, training thousands of professionals and supporting countless families. In his message, Jérôme Bocuse also expresses his support for Lyon's merchants affected by the vandalism. He describes them as the first victims of that day and calls for severe penalties against those responsible.
"No vandal will ever be able to tear him down"
For Jérôme Bocuse, his father's legacy
has far exceeded bronze and stone. Sharing, hard work, and generosity remain the essential values he associates with Lyon's emblematic chef. A way of reminding us that while a statue can be damaged, the mark left by Paul Bocuse on gastronomy and the city's history doesn't fade away quite so easily.