Activists claiming to be from Greenpeace stole a wax statue of French President Emmanuel Macron from the Musée Grévin in Paris [1].

The incident highlights the ongoing tension between environmental activists and the French government regarding national energy security and foreign relations. By targeting a likeness of the president, the group aimed to draw public attention to the intersection of climate policy and geopolitics.

The theft occurred on Monday, June 2, 2025 [1]. The sculpture was removed from the museum, which is known for its extensive collection of celebrity and political wax figures. The perpetrators did not immediately return the item to the museum authorities.

On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the statue was recovered after it was deposited in front of the headquarters of EDF, the state-owned electric utility company [2]. The placement of the statue at the EDF site was a deliberate choice by the activists to link the presidency with the nation's power infrastructure.

The group identifying with Greenpeace said the action was a protest against the economic and energy ties France maintains with Russia [2], [3]. They argued that these connections contradict environmental goals, and ethical standards in the current global climate.

Authorities in Paris monitored the recovery of the sculpture on June 3 [2]. While the statue was removed from the EDF headquarters, the incident has raised questions about security at the Musée Grévin. The museum has not provided a detailed account of how the statue was removed from the premises [1].

The activists used the high-profile nature of the wax figure to ensure the protest gained visibility across social media and news outlets. This method of "art-napping" serves as a symbolic gesture to suggest that the administration is captive to outdated energy dependencies [3].

“Activists identifying as Greenpeace stole a wax statue of French President Emmanuel Macron”

This stunt reflects a growing trend of 'symbolic theft' used by environmental groups to bypass traditional protest barriers. By linking the image of the president to the headquarters of the national electricity provider, the activists created a visual argument against France's energy strategy. The act underscores the specific pressure on the Macron administration to decouple French energy interests from Russian influence while simultaneously meeting stringent European climate targets.