Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Big Red Nine Does A Number On Boy's Noggin
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 5, 2011
Modified Sep 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 5, 2011
Modified Sep 5, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
's 10-feet-tall number nine sculpture has been a midtown icon for over three decades, appearing in feature films, TV shows, and Sesame Street (watch below). But while the red steel digit may seem like a colorful visual homage to John Lennon's favorite number (or something), this playful piece of sidewalk art is anything but harmless—as one 3-year-old boy allegedly found out the hard way.
The Post reports that little Kyle Lo and his mother were strolling by the nine during their visit from San Francisco when Kyle somehow sustained a "massive" gash on his skull. This happened back in 2009, but we're just hearing about it now because Kyle's mom, Lynn, is suing the management of the building at 9 West 57th Street. Her lawyer thinks the building owner is liable for injuries caused by the sculpture, which children routinely use as a jungle gym.
Lynn Lo insists her son wasn't even climbing on the nine, and got cut only because he brushed up against it. "My son was hurt, bleeding, and the guard was scolding me, asking why my son was jumping around [near the 9]!" she tells the Post. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, and at press time it was unclear whether this was an isolated incident, or if other litigious parents will come forward with nine-related horror stories. But maybe we should just be glad Chermayeff didn't go with his original idea for a giant number 4 made out of razor blades.
Tagged
Ivan Chermayeff
lawsuit
midtown
number nine
sculpture
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
Before they attempt to fend off LeBron James and the 76ers on Tuesday, the Knicks will have a chance to show off their winning mentality through their tunnel fits.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 19, 2026
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Arts & Entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .