Yahoo News Ricky Gervais' After Life bench vandalised
A special plaque was stolen from the seat
A bench that Ricky Gervais donated to his local park to help create an important "legacy" for his show After Life has been vandalised.
The seat on Hampstead Heath, near the star’s north London home, was one of several unveiled after the show about loss and mental health ended, to give people a spot to sit and relax or connect with others.
Inscribed with the words "Hope is Everything", it also featured a special plaque.
Read more: After Life donates benches to local councils in mental health scheme
However, it has now emerged that the bench has been vandalised and the plate stolen.
Gervais teamed up with Netflix and the suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) for the bench project.
After Life followed his character Tony, who is grief-stricken after losing his beloved wife to cancer and spends a lot of time on a bench reflecting about life.
Three series aired on the streaming service between 2019 and 2022.
For the project, 25 benches were unveiled.
Each featured a QR code leading to a supportive messages and online resources.
At the time, the comedian said he hoped the bench project would “create a lasting legacy” for After Life.
Zoe Margolis, a writer who lives locally, said it was “really sad” to see the seat vandalised as it “undermines the message of compassion and care”.
"Seeing the show’s motto ‘Hope is Everything’ carved into the bench must surely offer those who sit there a moment of peace in these troubled times – a chance to gather their thoughts or share them with other people,” she said.
The vandalism has now been cleared up by the City of London Corporation, which is responsible for the upkeep of the Heath.
Read more: Ricky Gervais rules out returning as Golden Globes host: 'F*** that'
“Vandalism is completely unacceptable on Hampstead Heath, and we have acted quickly to replace the plaque,” a spokesperson said.
The bench wasn't the first to be vandalised, with one of those placed in Nottingham targeted last year.
This is completely unacceptable and heartbreaking 💔
Over the weekend, vandals destroyed the 'Afterlife' bench in the Arboretum.
The bench was donated to the park in January via the @rickygervais show Afterlife, and quickly became a special place for reflection for many pic.twitter.com/rlXXX93tGU— 🏹 My Nottingham (@MyNottingham) May 23, 2022
The seat was left in pieces after the incident.
Additional reporting by SWNS.
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