Justin Sun, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, has made headlines by eating a banana he purchased as part of an art installation for $6.5 million. The banana, originally sold by a New York fruit vendor for just 20 cents, became a centerpiece of Maurizio Cattelan’s controversial artwork Comedian. The piece, which featured a banana duct-taped to a wall, sparked debate about the nature of art when it sold for millions at auction.
Sun consumed the banana during a media event at a luxury Hong Kong hotel, declaring it “much better than other bananas.” To mark the occasion, attendees were each given a banana duct-taped in the same style. Sun believes his act will become part of the artwork’s legacy.
The original banana vendor, Shah Alam, expressed disbelief and sorrow upon learning of the price his fruit achieved, stating, “I have never seen this kind of money.” Sun later promised to buy 100,000 bananas from Alam as a gesture of goodwill.
This isn’t the first time Cattelan’s Comedian has made waves. In 2019, a similar banana artwork was eaten by another buyer, with gallery officials replacing the fruit and stating that the banana was an “idea,” further fueling debates about the boundaries of conceptual art.
