A bizarre AI-generated Christmas mural that appeared above a Thai restaurant in Kingston, south-west London, has been removed after widespread mockery online. The image, which was erected above Busaba Eathai on Kingston Riverside, depicted a strange festive scene with revellers half-submerged in icy water, surrounded by snow, sleds, and animals with mixed-up bodies.
Locals described the AI glitches as “horrifying,” with one dog appearing to merge into a chicken and several laughing figures missing limbs. The mural drew attention in the family-friendly area, which hosts several top restaurants, and was roundly mocked on social media.
Staff at Busaba Eathai said they believed the mural was the work of the building’s landlord, not any of the restaurants below. They noted that customers had pointed out the mural, with some positive comments but many negative ones. The surrounding area remains under construction, with steel beams visible where the mural once stood.
One journalist joked that the mural seemed to celebrate “the return of our dark lord Cthulhu,” while others speculated it might have been a private installation, as Kingston Council had no involvement. The owner of the mural remains unknown.
