‘Jewish Simpsons’ Holocaust mural defaced in antisemitic attack at Milan Shoah Memorial
Blood-red paint and ‘Free Pal’ graffiti desecrate iconic artwork as artist warns of rising hatred
An internationally recognised Holocaust mural depicting the Simpsons as Auschwitz deportees has been defaced in a targeted antisemitic attack at the Shoah Memorial in Milan.
The mural, created by Italian pop artist aleXsandro Palombo in January 2023, showed the cartoon family wearing yellow stars behind a barbed wire – a powerful visual warning against forgetting the atrocities of the Holocaust. It has now been smeared with blood-red paint and the words “Free Pal”, in what Palombo described as “a visual representation of the antisemitic fury spreading through our cities.”
Speaking to The Jerusalem Post, the artist confirmed this is the sixth time the work has been vandalised in two years. “Little remains of the original artwork. It has been transformed a tribute to memory into an expression of hatred,” he said.
Palombo, known for his provocative public works on antisemitism, has faced repeated death threats and intimidation but says he will not stop. “These attacks do not intimidate me; they reinforce my determination,” he said.
The mural had not only artistic value but also educational significance, aimed at making Holocaust memory accessible to younger generations through the familiar visual language of the Simpsons. “Using the universal language of cartoons is a key tool for educating young people and fostering a shared historical conscience,” Palombo added.
The vandalism comes amid a surge of antisemitic incidents across Europe. The Anti-Defamation League called it “antisemitism in action”, warning that Holocaust memory is “under attack”. The words “Free Pal” were scrawled across the mural, which is located just metres from Milan’s Holocaust deportation platform.
Palombo has also accused pro-Palestinian student groups of sending him threats following his October 2023 mural dedicated to Vlada Patapov, a survivor of the Nova music festival in Israel. That work too was defaced – the survivor’s head was painted out.
He has called on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to enact emergency measures to combat hatred on campus and expel students involved in extremist activity. “If swift and decisive action is not taken, we risk facing a serious social crisis,” he said.
Several of Palombo’s murals, including tributes to Holocaust survivors Liliana Segre, Sami Modiano and Edith Bruck, have also been repeatedly targeted. Following the defacement of the mural depicting her, Senator for Life Liliana Segre said: “They took away my face, my identity, they erased the yellow star – but they left the number tattooed on my arm.”
Bruck, speaking after her portrait was vandalised, remarked: “The mural lives, it must live, precisely because it was vandalised. After being erased, it has truly come to life.”
Despite the repeated attacks, Palombo says he will continue to create – and may donate future works to international museums as “historical documents bearing witness to the brutality of our time”.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
