At the grand reopening of the famed New York City restaurant Babbo, tensions flared when the iconic protest puppet “Scabby the Rat” was found slashed outside the entrance—an act that prompted a police investigation and raised questions about the intersection of public protest and restaurant branding.
Scabby the Rat has long served as a symbolic figure in labor and protest circles, often employed to criticize establishments perceived as anti-worker or unsympathetic to unions and worker rights. Its presence outside Babbo during the reopening was intentional, reflecting ongoing friction around restaurant politics in the city.
Restaurant staff discovered the masqueraded puppet with visible slashes across its torso early in the day. The damage drew immediate attention from nearby patrol officers, who detained several individuals at the scene while securing evidence and canvassing for witnesses.
Inside sources suggest that the restaurant’s management had anticipated protest presence, but may not have expected outright damage to a symbolic effigy. The act of vandalism, in turn, escalated what might have been a peaceful demonstration into a full police matter.
Authorities have not yet confirmed arrests or charges, but are reportedly investigating as a misdemeanor vandalism or criminal mischief case. Some restaurateurs and local observers speculate that the act may have been intended as a provocative stunt — either to silence dissent or to draw further attention to the reopening under contentious labor conditions.
The incident has already stirred social media commentary, with supporters of labor rights denouncing the destruction of protest symbols, while critics argue the stunt was a predictable escalation. Whatever the intent, the image of a damaged Scabby puppet outside one of NYC’s signature restaurants will likely reverberate as a moment when protest art collided with business spectacle.
