WELLESLEY, MA — Fame isn’t all that cracked up to be, as one town in Massachusetts now knows.
Thanks to Lil Nas X’s Billboard chart-topping song, ‘Old Town Road’, a street in Wellesley, Massachusetts, which shares the same name as the hit single, has attracted fans – and thieves – from far and wide.
According to Wellesley’s official website, ‘Old Town Road’ street signs have been stolen three times in recent months. Costs to replace the signs each time added up to approximately $280, not including installation labour.
So what’s a town to do? Nothing.
“Currently the street sign posts are empty. The Department of Public Works is waiting for the song’s popularity to fade before replacing the signs again,” said town officials.
Though Lil Nas X may find the whole situation flattering, officials are quick to remind the public that it’s no laughing matter.
“First responders often rely on the street signs in emergencies and missing signs could delay response times,” they added.
The town is hoping that the recent publicity will help discourage thieves from pilfering the signs – or any other street signs – in the future.
‘Old Town Road’ is spending its 19th week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, and is now considered the longest-running No. 1 hit in history. Earlier this week it broke two additional records on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop songs and Hot rap songs charts.
