Inside the 'Man in Bean' hoax: Chicago's latest viral urban legend

Time Out

07-08-2025

Have you ever found yourself wandering around Millennium Park, gazing into the reflective splendor of ' The Bean ' and wondered, 'Is there a man hopelessly trapped in there?'
Probably not—unless you're a card-carrying member of the ' Man In Bean Coalition,' a viral (and possibly performance art) stunt that's been making waves online and beyond.
While thousands descended on Grant Park for Lollapalooza last week, a small group of 'protesters' spent the weekend picketing at the foot of Cloud Gate (that's 'The Bean's' government name). Dressed in all-black and waving signs scrawled with slogans like 'UNLOCK CLOUDGATE' and 'YOU WOULDN'T PUT A BABY INSIDE A BEAN,' they quickly caught the attention of Millennium Park security—and Chicago at large. The group also handed out flyers urging bystanders to contact Alderman Brendan Reilly's office, whose ward includes Millennium Park.
Alderman Reilly's office was inundated with so many calls that he was compelled to share a public statement, calling the Man In Bean Coalition an 'online hoax.'
'I am happy to confirm that a man has not been trapped inside Cloud Gate (a.k.a 'the Bean') for the past 21 years. In fact, the man was freed years ago,' the statement reads. 'Further, we can neither confirm nor deny that Soldier Field is actually a flying saucer secretly relocated from Area 51 back in 2003.'
The Man In Bean Coalition's sole social media account, an Instagram page dubbed @ManInBean, has amassed over 27,000 followers in just over a week.
In a video that has received thousands of views, a protester explains the group's cause: 'We're calling for his immediate release. In 2004, Anish Kapoor, the chief architect and designer of 'The Bean' put him in there. He stole a baby and put that baby in 'The Bean.' Free him! Let him out!"
Built between 2004 and 2006, Cloud Gate is one of the largest permanent outdoor art installations in the world. Designed by British sculptor Anish Kapoor, it's made up of 168 stainless steel plates seamlessly welded into a concave, bean-shaped chamber. Its mirrored surface warps and reflects the surrounding skyline, making it one of Chicago's most iconic and photographed landmarks. Despite the ongoing protests, there is no evidence to support the presence of a man in the Bean.
When reached for comment by Time Out Chicago, the Man In Bean Coalition offered the following statement: 'THERE IS a man trapped inside of the Chicago Bean. This is fact. We are not performative, we are not satirical and we are not a meme. There is nothing funny about a man being held in captivity in a giant metal structure like Cloud Gate. Perhaps, if your media outlet would take our cause more seriously, we would be willing to provide more answers to your questions. But, at this time, we have nothing more to say to Big Bean Media.'