ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Banksy could finally be unmasked as famous graffiti artist is named in court case

Home> News> UK News

Updated 12:29 3 Oct 2023 GMT+1Published 12:24 3 Oct 2023 GMT+1

Banksy could finally be unmasked as famous graffiti artist is named in court case

The infamous artist could finally be unmasked after their company was named in a court case

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Alongside the creation of Stonehenge and the great pyramids, it's remained one of life's great mysteries: who is Banksy?

He or she has managed to keep their true identity under wraps for the best part of 30 years.

Leaving their mark on buildings all around the world, from Los Angeles to Bethlehem, many have tried to unmask them during that time.

However, as of yet, despite rumours, they've remained unsuccessful in their endeavour.

Advert

But could that all be about to change? Well, according to reports, Banksy's company is being sued by a very wealthy entrepreneur over defamation.

Banksy's paintings adorn walls around the world.
David Becker/Getty Images

Reports in the Daily Mail state Andrew Gallagher, who used to be heavily involved in the music scene back in the 90s, has launched legal action against Pest Control Ltd. - a company set up by Banksy to manage to sale of their art - as well as a man called Robin Gunningham.

The 49-year-old graffiti artist has long been thought to be the man behind the infamous moniker.

Despite request for comment, neither Mr Gallagher nor his lawyer Aaron Wood would offer much information on the case.

Mr Wood told the outlet that details would remain 'confidential' 'until Banksy or Pest Control file their acknowledgement of service'.

"For this reason, I’m not at liberty to say any more about the claim," he said.

Could Banksy finally be unmasked?
Matthew Horwood/Getty Image

So while there's been no confirmation as yet whether Mr Gunningham is definitely the man we've all known as Banksy, it might not be long until we find out once and for all.

LADbible has contacted Pest Control Ltd. for comment.

This comes after Banksy's 'real voice' was unearthed in a resurfaced recording.

The artist mostly communicates with the public via social media now, but in March 2005 he called in for an interview on National Public Radio (NPR), where he seemed to speak with his real voice.

The interview has resurfaced in a 10-episode BBC podcast series called The Banksy Story, and took place as Banksy carried out a series of stunts across famous art institutions in New York, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

It features a man speaking in a Southern English accent - but is it too good to be true?

In the clip, the interviewer says: "We assume that you are who you say you are, but how can we be sure?"

He responds: "Oh, you have no guarantee of that at all."

Though Banksy doesn't confirm his identity, he speaks with knowledge about his work and how he goes unnoticed, and even drops a hint about his appearance.

He explains: "Some of [the pieces] are quite big... Most people let the world go past them and they don't pay a lot of attention to most things - not even, apparently, to people with big beards, wielding around pieces of art and glueing them up."

Featured Image Credit: Midjourney/Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Topics: UK News, Banksy, Art

Dominic Smithers
Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers is LADbible's Editorial Lead. After graduating from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History, he went on to write for the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express. So as you can imagine, he’s spent many a night wondering just how useful that second language has been. But c'est la vie.

X

@SmithersDom

Recommended reads

Brutal footage shows moment pickup truck crushes $250,000 Lamborghini with driver inside(Instagram/@1realramon)Men took car ‘owned by criminals’ to WeBuyAnyCar to see if they’d buy it(Kennedy News and Media)Epstein survivor opens up about moment she was presented with schoolgirl uniformLADbible StoriesArmed suspect who stormed White House Correspondents' Dinner charged with attempted assassination of the presidentUS President Trump via Truth Social/Anadolu via Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • (Instagram/@1realramon)
    an hour ago

    Brutal footage shows moment pickup truck crushes $250,000 Lamborghini with driver inside

    Ramon Ferrer was lucky to walk away after a pickup truck drove over his car in an Orlando parking lot

    News
  • (Kennedy News and Media)
    an hour ago

    Men took car ‘owned by criminals’ to WeBuyAnyCar to see if they’d buy it

    The panksters decided to see if the company really would 'buy any car'

    News
  • LADbible Stories
    2 hours ago

    Epstein survivor opens up about moment she was presented with schoolgirl uniform

    In 2019, Anouska De Georgiou became the first Brit to publicly disclose that she'd been abused by Epstein

    News
  • US President Trump via Truth Social/Anadolu via Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Armed suspect who stormed White House Correspondents' Dinner charged with attempted assassination of the president

    Suspected shooter Cole Tomas Allen could face life in prison if found guilty of trying to assassinate President Donald Trump

    News

    breaking

  • First known photo of 'Banksy' taken 22 years ago as artist is identified 'beyond dispute'
  • Man rumoured to be Banksy furiously sets record straight after artist identified 'beyond dispute'
  • Banksy's identity could be revealed as his new artwork is already scrubbed off walls
  • Family of ‘missing' Jay Slater witness confirm her whereabouts as she ‘couldn’t be found' to give evidence in court