Jeremy Allen White’s bare-chested billboard has sparked a planning row after Hackney council in London branded it illegal.
The massive 65 by 26-foot flood-lit canopy is spread across the windows of three storeys of terraces – shrouding them in darkness.
Outraged locals have complained it is ‘blighting’ the area by causing the poor people who live behind it to suffer.
The Calvin Klein billboard shows the American actor lying down in a sleeveless denim jacket with his rippling muscles on show.
A Hackney council spokesman said in a statement: ‘The council investigated this matter in autumn 2020 and concluded that the was unlawful.
‘A “removal notice” was issued in October of the same year, but an appeal was made against the notice to the magistrates’ court. We will follow the process through and take appropriate action in due course.
‘In Hackney, we have seen previous cases of advert installed illegally, with owners failing to remove them despite enforcement attempts, showing not just the greed of some landlords but also the challenges councils face preventing this kind of advertising.’
The billboard is located on the busy high street of Kingsland Road and is sold by blowUPmedia, a firm which manages billboards across Britain.
One local told The Telegraph: ‘Mr Allen is a great actor but these adverts are a blight on the area.
‘Think of the poor people who live in the flats behind them. They won’t be getting the money but have to live in a dark home.’
The billboard was first approved in June 2012, planning documents indicate, and Hackney council planning documents show permission was initially granted for a period of five years, ending in 2017.
But the has remained in place since then despite there being no further applications to extend its permission.
According to blowUPmedia’s website, the hoarding is viewed by 27,897 people every day and it has previously been used by Puma, Asahi beer and Inch’s cider.
The website describes the billboard as: ‘Between the hip hubs of Shoreditch and Dalston runs the ever changing Kingsland Road, a consistently busy road with traffic travelling between central London out towards Stratford and the East.
‘By night the renowned nightlife of Shoreditch is populated with over 90 bars and has one of the highest concentration of clubs in London.
‘Bustling by day with a young and urban workforce specialising in the growing technology sector, boutique fashion, art and design.’
has contacted blowUPmedia for comment.
The billboard appears to be part of The Bear star’s new Calvin Klein fall 2024 campaign which began this week.
The star – who is dating songstress Rosalia, 31- exuded confidence as he stripped off to underwear before posing in jeans.
He also showcased his rippling back muscles and tattoos as he worked the camera.
But most fans seem to be on board with the advertising campaign, as the star’s risque poses quickly drove them into a frenzy as they took to social media to praise his physique and publicly thirst for him.
Fans wrote: ‘Goodness me’, ‘I’ll buy everything’, ‘Yes chef’ and ‘Oh Jeremy Allen the man you are.’
Not only did he take part in a steamy campaign for Calvin Klein’s briefs earlier this year, he won a Golden Globe in January.
White won the Golden Globe for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for his role in The Bear.
‘I love you guys so much,’ White said after giving specific shout-outs as he accepted the award. ‘I must have done something right in this life to be in your company. Thank you guys. Thank you so much!’
He then mentioned the two children he shares with ex-wife Addison Timlin: ‘Ezer and Dolores, you are my heart. I love you. I love you. I love you,’ he said.
‘Thank you. Thank you so much,’ he continued. ‘I feel so lucky I get to do this. Thank you guys.’
Allen beat out Bill Hader, Jason Segel, Jason Sudeikis, Martin Short, and Steve Martin for the honour.
White also appeared in the recently released biopic The Iron Claw, also starring Zac Efron. The Shameless actor gained 40 pounds of muscle for his role.
The movie is based on the real life Von Erich brothers – a famed wrestling family that dealt with a lot of tragedy.
He previously told Esquire how he bulked up for the role, revealing he was ‘eating all the time.’
‘In the morning I would have waffles, almond butter. In the middle of the day, I was eating turkey patties and avocado all the time. It’s really just gross,’ he explained to the magazine.
‘You’re trying to consume as much as you possibly can, and to be honest, you don’t feel great. I was training as well, but, I don’t know, trying to get that big, it’s no way to live,’ Jeremy said.