French authorities in front of the Louvre after the robbery (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
On Oct. 19, four thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre and made off with eight invaluable crown jewels. In the wake of the robbery, Gen Z responded with enthusiasm and support.
It was a typical morning at one of the most famous museums in the world. Tourists milled about the most famous pieces of art in the world: the Mona Lisa, sculptures by Michaelangelo, and paintings by Caravaggio—just to name a few.
However, the day quickly shifted from typical to historical.
Around 9 a.m., the thieves—dressed as construction workers—used a truck with a large ladder to reach one of the Louvre’s high windows from the outside. After cutting through the windows, they broke glass display cases and snatched multiple crown jewels dating back to the 19th century.
They abandoned their truck in favor of scooters and successfully got away with little struggle. The only thing left behind was Empress Eugénie’s crown, which they dropped during their escape.
The Louvre was immediately evacuated and authorities were notified. It didn’t take long for the news to reach the world.
Once Gen Z got ahold of the headlines, they refused to let go.
Many romanticized the incident. One TikTok user posted a picture of the crown jewels with the caption: “Am I the only one feeling FOMO [fear of missing out] from the heist? Can you imagine the thrill and euphoria from pulling something like that off in 2025?” As of Nov. 1, the post has accrued over 6 million views.
Another TikTok user put together a quick slideshow of aesthetic images set to the tune of “Paris” by The Chainsmokers. “This is what I imagine the heist felt like,” said the caption. The post currently holds over 9 million views.
Evidently, Gen Z wasn’t shy about their idolization and glamorization of the crime. Historical pieces of art were stolen in broad daylight, and very few people were outraged. In fact, they seemed to be in support of the thieves. Why?
One factor could be the desperate need for escapism most people feel nowadays. It’d be an understatement to say we’re currently living in bleak times. It makes sense that a heist would offer some exciting distraction.
As a culture, we’ve found escapism in intricate crimes before. The successes of the “Ocean’s” and “Now You See Me” movie franchises are indicative of this.
Many people even joked that the Louvre heist was just an elaborate publicity stunt for the new film “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” set to release in theaters on Nov. 14.
People yearn to take power back into their own hands. We live our ordinary lives and can’t do much to stand up to the powers that be, so it’s often cathartic to see a group of people break laws with reckless abandon.
The caveat here is the fact that the heist didn’t hurt anyone. Gen Z isn’t going around idolizing every crime that flashes across their screens. The heist was unique, which is why it had so much appeal.
Gen Z is used to seeing violent crimes plastered over news sites every day. We’ve heard about mass shootings our whole lives; they don’t shock us. What is shocking is a well-executed robbery where no one was hurt or even threatened.
That fact makes it easy to paint these thieves as “Robin Hood”-like figures. Throughout history, France has been known for the tense relationship between its bourgeoisie (the upper class) and its lower class. The idea of four thieves stealing from the wealthy is very French and thus very chic to the wider culture.
Many people just respected the pure effort which must’ve gone into the heist. In the age of AI and cryptocurrency crimes, it’s refreshing to see people steal the old-fashioned way.
A meticulous plan was essential in order to carry out a robbery of this caliber, and the thieves executed it with hardly any hiccups. If nothing else, their skill is respectable.
This past weekend, many donned construction jackets and fake crowns as their Halloween costumes. The costumes were the perfect blend of unique, topical, and relevant. They showed just how quickly the heist became cemented in our thoughts.
Although Paris authorities have since caught multiple suspects in relation to the heist, the damage is already done. The jewels haven’t been found, and the crime continues to be a cultural moment for Gen Z.