From kings to ministers: Egging - still a tool of political protest
Egg-throwing has long been used worldwide as a tool of political protest, public humiliation, and theatrical dissent
The act of throwing food at authority figures or performers has a long tradition. In AD 63, the Roman governor Vespasian was famously pelted with turnips by citizens angered by his severe policies.
Bite-Sized: How egging became a protest tool
By the Middle Ages, eggs had taken centre stage. Prisoners placed in stocks often found themselves targets of egg-throwing crowds. The practice later spilled into the world of theatre. Elizabethan audiences, unimpressed by poor performances, would hurl rotten eggs at actors — a gesture that feels strikingly similar to the way food is sometimes used to make a political statement today.
Egg-throwing has long been used worldwide as a tool of political protest, public humiliation, and theatrical dissent. From British royalty to far-right leaders, ministers, and ministers-in-waiting, eggs have been thrown to challenge authority and attract public attention.
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Unlike other forms of protest, eggs can spread a political message instantly through social media, with viral images and videos amplifying the impact
Even in literature, the image of public egging was well established. In George Eliot's Middlemarch, set in the 1830s, the character Mr Brooke is humiliated when hecklers interrupt his campaign speech with a volley of eggs.
The latest to face egging is National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossen, who was harassed by Awami League supporters outside the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York on Tuesday. The New York Police Department has detained one of the AL men for throwing the eggs. At the same time, the Bangladesh government said the foreign ministry and the consulate in New York are working to address the matter with local authorities.
The NCP today (23 September) called the incident "heinous" and criticised the government for failing to ensure the security of its leaders when they are travelling with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who is currently in the United States on an official visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Over time, the egg-throwing tradition expanded far beyond the popular perishable. Political protests have seen faces and podiums splattered with tomatoes, cream pies, custard, purple flour, animal slurry — and, on one occasion, even chocolate éclairs.
High-profile eggings
King Charles III, United Kingdom (2022): During a royal visit to York, anti-monarchist Patrick Thelwell threw five eggs at the new monarch while shouting accusations. None struck the king. Thelwell was arrested, convicted of threatening behaviour, and sentenced to community service. He later said he received death threats after the incident.
Marine Le Pen, France (2022): The far-right National Rally leader was targeted by a protester during a campaign visit in northern France. A bodyguard intercepted the egg before it could strike Le Pen. Such incidents are relatively common during French election campaigns.
Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq, Bangladesh (2018): The former adviser to the ousted prime minister and the former law minister were hit by eggs thrown by members of the public and some lawyers while being transported from a Dhaka court after being remanded in a case linked to last year's July Uprising. Authorities placed the two men inside an iron cage for safety as proceedings were disrupted.
Fraser Anning, Australia (2019): The far-right senator was struck by an egg at a press conference after blaming Muslim immigration for the Christchurch mosque attacks. Anning retaliated physically before supporters intervened. The incident went viral, and a fundraiser for the teenager responsible raised over $70,000, most of which was donated to victims of the attacks.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, United States (2003): During his California gubernatorial campaign, the Hollywood icon-turned-politician was hit by an egg at a public rally. The incident drew widespread media attention and highlighted the global nature of eggings as a form of political expression.
Other high-profile cases include former Labour leader Ed Miliband, egged in 2013 during a walkabout in South London; Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy, hit during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign; and Ukraine's Viktor Yanukovych, struck by an egg during his 2004 presidential campaign.
Over the years, plenty of public figures have found themselves on the receiving end of an egg. David Cameron, Nigel Farage, Ruth Kelly, George Galloway, Nick Griffin, Simon Cowell, and even illusionist David Blaine have all been targeted — with mixed results in accuracy and reaction.
But none of those incidents quite measure up to the most famous case of all. In North Wales in 2001, then-deputy prime minister John Prescott was struck squarely by an egg thrown by a farm worker. Prescott's response was instant: he swung back with a punch to the protester's face. The scuffle was caught on camera, replayed endlessly, and cemented itself as one of the most unforgettable — and unintentionally comic — moments in modern British politics.
Why eggs remain a potent political tool
Egging combines symbolism, spectacle, and accessibility. Analysts say it is inexpensive, theatrical, and humiliating, reducing even powerful figures to objects of public ridicule.
Unlike other forms of protest, eggs can spread a political message instantly through social media, with viral images and videos amplifying the impact.
At the same time, egging can carry legal consequences. Courts often treat it as assault, with offenders facing fines, community service, or arrest.
Yet the act endures, particularly during periods of heightened political tension or controversy.
From New York to York, from Dhaka to Melbourne, the egg endures as a global symbol of protest and political expression — a way to sting and humiliate those in power without causing lasting harm or inviting harsher repercussions.
