Melted Bean Photos Exposed: How Ai Imagery and Parody Sparked a Nationwide Rumor
Disproving the rumor required nothing more than looking out a window or checking the city's public webcam feeds. The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) maintains active monitoring of Grainger Plaza, which reopened fully to the public following extensive plaza renovations that replaced aging waterproofing systems beneath the structure.
Pedestrians visiting Millennium Park on the very afternoons the rumor peaked walked under the 12-foot underbelly of the sculpture, taking selfies in the concave omphalos exactly as they have done since its unveiling in 2004. Foot traffic around the plaza remained steady, with tourists and locals crowding the plaza's perimeter.
The incident highlighted how quickly digital misinformation outpaces institutional communication. While park staff on the ground answered confused phone calls from out-of-state travelers, the physical reality in the park was entirely unremarkable: hot granite underfoot, crowds milling around, and a mirror-clean sculpture reflecting the blue skies above Lake Michigan.
