A video showing a scuffle between costumed superhero characters in front of the Hollywood & Highland Center prompted a Los Angeles city councilman today to mull steps for regulating activity at the popular tourist spot.
Councilman Mitch O’Farrell is meeting with Hollywood-area stakeholders to discuss measures that he plans to introduce next week, according to his office. No specifics were immediately released.
“The councilman is moving forward with ideas for positive change that people will be able to see when they visit Hollywood,” O’Farrell spokesman Tony Arranaga said.
The fight occurred Tuesday afternoon between two people dressed as Mr. Incredible and Batgirl. The video also shows someone in a Chewbacca costume attempting to stop the brawl, which ended with Mr. Incredible flipping Batgirl onto the sidewalk.
The area along Hollywood Boulevard where the fight occurred is frequently crowded with tourists taking photos with costumed characters and celebrity impersonators, people hawking various wares and tour bus companies collecting passengers for sight-seeing trips.
Turf wars between costumed characters have been known to erupt in the past, but police said today they are still investigating whether the latest fight was territorial in nature.
Los Angeles police conducted a crackdown in 2010, arresting some of the costumed characters and accusing them of begging aggressively. Several of the character impersonators filed a lawsuit against the city in response to the arrests, alleging violation of their First and Fourth amendment rights.
City officials at the time considered requiring the characters to obtain permits, but ultimately decided against it.
