Los Angeles, California, has the largest homeless population in the United States. Instead of encountering celebrities at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, visitors are now greeted by homeless individuals and street performers, making the avenue "the world's worst tourist spot" in 2025, as reported by East Week magazine, a sister publication of The Standard.
The Walk of Fame is a renowned location where celebrities leave their mark – a prestigious honor where their names are engraved on star-shaped plaques – making the avenue one of the world's most famous tourist attractions.
Former footballer David Beckham has been honored with a star on the Walk of Fame following the release of his documentary, Beckham. As Los Angeles is one of this year's FIFA World Cup host cities, Beckham's star and handprint are expected to be installed before the tournament.
Each year, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce selects around 20 individuals who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in the entertainment industry and made a lasting impact on society. Over 2,800 have been honored on the Walk of Fame for their contributions.
The first star was awarded in 1960 to Joanne Woodward, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in The Three Faces of Eve.
However, in 2025, Stasher Luggage Company dubbed the Walk of Fame "the world's worst tourist spot" after an in-depth study of over 100 tourist destinations worldwide.
Jacob Wedderburn-Day, chief executive of Stasher, described the walk's bottom ranking as an example of a "trap" that attracts tourists based on reputation rather than tourist experience.
According to a 2024 report, Hollywood's overall crime rate is nearly 1.5 times higher than the national average. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and residents attribute poor public safety to insufficient police patrols, with the number of officers halved from 60 in the area since the Covid pandemic.
Another issue driving visitors away from the Walk of Fame is its filthy state. In 2024, pop star Miley Cyrus was hospitalized for a severe knee infection after filming her "Walk of Fame" music video on the sidewalk.
The Los Angeles government and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce are working to improve the Walk of Fame. So far, the number of homeless individuals in the Hollywood area has already been cut by half.
Meanwhile, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce refused to remove President Donald Trump's star despite it being repeatedly vandalized, claiming honorees are entitled to a star that lasts forever.
