Cattelan's controversial banana, valued at millions of euros, is being eaten again in a French museum.

A visitor to the Centre Pompidou-Metz bit into the banana that is part of "Comedian," the famous installation by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan , valued at millions of dollars . Although it may seem like an act of vandalism, the museum has taken it in its stride: the fruit was replaced "within minutes" and without legal consequences , according to museum spokespersons.

"The security team intervened swiftly and calmly, in accordance with internal procedures," the museum confirmed to AFP. The action did not compromise the integrity of the work, which consists of a banana attached to the wall with silver adhesive tape, accompanied by precise instructions for its replacement.

The piece, part of the exhibition "Dimanche Sans Fin," with which the Pompidou-Metz celebrates its 15th anniversary, has been capturing the public's attention since May. Its presence in the French city has rekindled the debate about the limits of art and its symbolic and commercial value. Cattelan , true to his ironic tone, lamented that the viewer "mistaken the fruit for the work of art." "Instead of eating the banana with its peel and tape, the visitor simply consumed the fruit," the artist added, according to the museum's statement.

This isn't the first episode involving the provocative banana. Since its debut in 2019 at Art Basel Miami—where it sold for up to $150,000 and was devoured by artist David Datuna as an act of protest—'Comedian' has been more of a performance than a sculpture. Its consumption was repeated in 2023, this time by a starving student at the Leeum Museum in Seoul. And in an even more theatrical twist, cryptocurrency magnate Justin Sun, after paying $6.2 million for an edition of the work, ate it in front of dozens of cameras in Hong Kong.

Cattelan, known for his irreverent style, has built his career by challenging conventions and mocking the solemnity of the art world. "Comedian"—with its simple, perishable, and replaceable banana—reflects this absurdity. With each stolen bite, the audience participates, perhaps unwittingly, in a continuous performance that questions the value of the art object, its authenticity, and even the role of the viewer.

Being eaten again doesn't seem like a disruption, but rather an integral part of her story . A story that, it seems, still has several bites left.