A New York City council member has demanded the removal of a mural depicting slain Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, funded by Elon Musk and Andrew Tate, amid concerns it is being used to stoke political divisions. The mural, painted on a building in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighbourhood, is part of a series commissioned by Eoghan McCabe, a Trump-supporting tech CEO, with $1m from Musk and pledges from Tate.
Zarutska, 23, was stabbed to death while riding a light rail in Charlotte, North Carolina, last year. Her suspected killer, Decarlos Brown Jr, has a history of mental health issues and multiple arrests. The killing was captured on video and went viral, with conservative figures including Donald Trump and JD Vance using it to criticise crime policies and immigration.
The murals have appeared in several US cities, but local residents in Bushwick have reacted negatively, with graffiti reading 'Fuck Trump' appearing on the wall. One graphic artist questioned the connection to the neighbourhood, suggesting Musk was using his wealth to impose his views. The mural was painted by Ben Keller, who has previously depicted Musk and Jeff Bezos.
Council member Jennifer Gutiérrez said the mural 'exploits a tragedy for political gain' and called for its removal. She noted that the funding sources, including Musk and Tate, have 'harmful agendas' that do not reflect community values. The building's owner has not commented, but the mural remains in place as of now.
