A satirical protest movement is gaining massive social media attention with claims that a man has been trapped inside Chicago's famous Cloud Gate sculpture for over two decades. The group, calling itself the Man in Bean Coalition, has garnered more than 33,000 Instagram followers while demanding that artist Anish Kapoor release the alleged captive from his renowned public artwork, commonly known as "the Bean."

The coalition first captured widespread public attention following a July 31 protest that was widely shared across social media platforms. In viral video footage, activists can be heard chanting, "We're loud, we're mean, there's a man in the Bean! We'll scream, we'll shout—Anish Kapoor, let him out!" The protest took place at Millennium Park, where the reflective stainless steel sculpture has been a major tourist attraction since its installation in 2004.

According to the group's social media statements, they allege that Kapoor "stole a baby and put that baby inside of the Bean" during the sculpture's construction nearly 21 years ago. The coalition claims this person has been living inside Cloud Gate ever since, sustained through what they describe as covert operations disguised as routine maintenance. They point to recent renovations, including a 2023-2024 period when the surrounding plaza was under construction and the sculpture was inaccessible to the public, as evidence of Kapoor secretly supplying "rations" to the trapped individual.

The activists have developed an elaborate conspiracy theory around the sculpture's construction and materials. While the official municipal website lists Cloud Gate as being made of polished stainless steel plates, coalition members claim the surface is actually a one-way mirror that allows the allegedly trapped person to see out while remaining invisible to visitors. They also assert that the sculpture's base contains hidden air and food vents designed to "sustain a meager and desolate life within the chrome."

Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly, who represents the 42nd Ward that includes Cloud Gate, responded to the campaign with humor while addressing the practical impact on his office. "I am happy to confirm that a man has not been trapped inside Cloud Gate (aka the Bean) for the past 21 years. In fact, the man was freed years ago," Reilly said in a tongue-in-cheek statement. He added, "Further, we can neither confirm nor deny that Soldier Field is actually a flying saucer secretly relocated from Area 51 back in 2003."

However, Reilly also noted the real-world consequences of the viral campaign. "I appreciate light-hearted parody as much as the next guy, and I've always welcomed public engagement," he explained. "However, this online hoax has led to a heavy uptick in calls to my office. Unfortunately, answering the heavy volume of calls regarding this hoax is ultimately a distraction for my office from the real work we do for the 42nd Ward and City of Chicago each day."

The Man in Bean Coalition has doubled down on their claims following media coverage from Block Club Chicago and other outlets. In what appears to be a satirical take on contemporary political rhetoric about media bias, the group accused "Big Bean Media" of spreading lies about their cause. "THERE IS a man trapped inside of the Chicago Bean. This is fact," they wrote in a statement to Time Out Chicago. "We are not performative, we are not satirical and we are not a meme. There is nothing funny about a man being held in captivity in a giant metal structure like Cloud Gate."

The viral campaign has attracted support from unexpected quarters, including local businesses and other artists. Chicago deep-dish pizza chain Lou Malnati's joined the satirical movement by commenting on the coalition's Instagram posts, claiming their delivery drivers have been bringing food to the trapped individual for years. "He is registered in our system as First name: Man in the, Last name: Bean Please free m. Unfortunately, our system has a character limit and would not allow him to fill out the rest," the restaurant's social media account stated.

British artist Stuart Semple, who has been engaged in a long-running public feud with Kapoor over exclusive access to the ultra-dark material Vantablack, also voiced support for the coalition. "He must be released!!" Semple commented on one of the group's posts, adding another layer to the ongoing artistic controversy surrounding Kapoor's work.

This latest satirical campaign follows a pattern of internet humor targeting Cloud Gate. In 2017, the sculpture was the subject of numerous fake Facebook events proposing absurd activities such as cleaning it with Windex, dressing it as a ghost for Halloween, replacing it with comedian Mr. Bean, having celebrity chef Guy Fieri cook with it, and rolling it into Lake Michigan to test its buoyancy. These previous hoaxes demonstrated the sculpture's unique position as both a serious work of contemporary art and a target for internet satire.

Cloud Gate's status as Chicago's most photographed attraction makes it particularly ripe for such satirical treatment. Located in Millennium Park, which receives approximately 25 million visitors annually, the sculpture has become universally recognizable shorthand for contemporary public art. Its brilliantly reflective exterior and completely sealed interior create an almost perfect vessel for conspiracy theories and imaginative speculation about what might be hidden inside.

As of press time, neither Kapoor's studio nor the Man in Bean Coalition had responded to requests for additional comment from news organizations. The campaign continues to grow on social media, serving as both entertainment and commentary on how viral movements can capture public attention in the digital age, while also highlighting the enduring fascination with one of America's most distinctive public artworks.