Even skateboarding icon Tony Hawk isn’t immune to being kicked out of a skate spot — especially when security guards are calling the shots at one of Los Angeles’ most recognizable public plazas.
The 58-year-old skateboarding legend revealed Friday that he was booted from Pershing Square while filming a nostalgic recreation of his iconic video game, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, in celebration of its 25th anniversary.
“Fun fact: we got kicked out of Pershing Square while shooting this today,” Hawk shared on Instagram, posting footage of himself recreating memorable moments from the beloved skateboarding game.
U.S. skateboarding legend Tony Hawk rides through the paddock at Silverstone Circuit in Northampton, England, on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
The video captures Hawk cruising through the downtown Los Angeles landmark, passing its distinctive red spheres and a nearby car wash before transitioning into footage from the classic video game.
His digital counterpart then takes over, pulling off gravity-defying tricks, flips and stunts that the real-life Hawk leaves to the virtual world. Now 58 and retired from professional competition, the skateboarding icon lets his video game alter ego handle the more daring moves.
Hawk’s video game counterpart then takes center stage, performing a series of impressive flips and tricks that the real-life skateboarding legend doesn’t attempt in the footage.
The encounter also sparked speculation that security guards may not have recognized Hawk, who has become an internet sensation thanks to his amusing stories about people failing to realize they’re speaking to one of skateboarding’s biggest names.
Originally released in North America on October 30, 2001, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 went on to sell an estimated 7.53 million copies worldwide, cementing its place among the most successful skateboarding video games of all time.
The game marked a major milestone for the popular franchise, becoming the first entry to introduce online multiplayer. It also debuted the groundbreaking “revert” mechanic, allowing players to extend their trick combinations by connecting quarterpipe landings with manuals for even higher scores.
Tony Hawk films a skateboarding video at Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles to celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3.”
The classic game later received a remake as part of 2025’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, bringing the beloved skateboarding franchise to a new generation of players.
Meanwhile, social media users wasted no time poking fun at Hawk’s unexpected encounter with security guards at the Los Angeles plaza.
“Security was waiting their whole life for today,” one commenter joked.
Another referenced the long-running internet meme surrounding Hawk, who frequently shares humorous encounters with strangers who either fail to recognize him or refuse to believe they’re actually talking to the legendary skateboarder.
“That guy looks like Tony Hawk,” one social media user quipped, referencing the running joke about the skateboarding legend often going unrecognized in public.
While some fans laughed about the security incident, others were swept up in nostalgia, sharing heartfelt memories of how Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 influenced their childhoods and introduced them to skateboarding and new music.
“The game that got me into skateboarding and opened up the world of music for me.. which led to the best childhood and beyond,” Ryan Keen wrote in the comments. “Thanks Tony.”
