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Outrage scuttles Louis Vuitton

By Jeffrey White
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
August 30th, 2006 issue

Madonna is at the center of controversy in Prague, not over her upcoming sold-out concerts at Sazka Arena Sept. 6th and ­7th which will kick off with the singer rising to the stage bound to a crucifix ‹ but rather a VIP party planned for Charles Bridge where she was to give a special, private performance.

The would-be party host, Louis Vuitton, pulled the plug on the gig after the city imposed new conditions limiting the bridge gala from four days to one night and requiring that pedestrian foot traffic not be disrupted. The high-end fashion company had agreed to pay the city 1.2 million Kc ($54,744) to rent the iconic span, which dates to 1357, for a bash beginning Sept. 6 that was to culminate Sept. 9 with a invitation-only gala featuring the pop diva singing several songs.

"They are turning this piece of national heritage into a cultural whore for sale"

Martin Mejstřík

Under the initial terms of the deal, bridge walkers were to be limited to a 3-meter-wide corridor Sept. 6­8, and barred outright from 4 p.m. Sept. 9 to 2 a.m. Sept. 10, when the party was slated to end.

After signing that deal with Louis Vuitton, which created a furor among some officials and preservationists, who planned a protest demonstration, City Hall balked.

Prague Mayor Pavel Bém, who denied being involved in the party's initial approval, added the new conditions, including a guarantee that nothing on the bridge would be damaged.

Now Louis Vuitton, which has an outlet on ritzy Parízská street, is shopping its party around to different Prague bridges. As of Aug. 31, city officials said they were close to approving a deal that would move the gala to nearby Cechuv Bridge.

"We won't identify a specific location yet," said City Hall spokesman Jirí Wolf.

Comment

"They are turning this piece of national
heritage into a cultural whore for sale."

Martin Mejstřík,
senator

Meanwhile, news that Charles Bridge is no longer an option is being greeted positively among those who objected to Louis Vuittonšs original plan. Some of the harshest criticism came from Senator Martin Mejstrík, an independent. He called a party on Charles Bridge "a sacrilege.".

"It's like holding a giant eating party inside St. Vitus Cathedral," he said. "They are turning this piece of national heritage into a cultural whore for sale."

Throughout all this, Natalie Beltmanová, Louis Vuitton's spokesperson, has not answered repeated requests for comment. Madonnaąs record label, Warner Music, is telling the media it has no details on a special appearance. So just who is in charge of approving the rental of Pragueąs public places? Even now, city officials are having a tough time answering that.

Jeffrey White can be reached at jwhite@praguepost.com


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