Mellody Hobson Resigns From LA28 Board Ahead Of Lucas Museum Opening Amid Activist Pressure

Mellody Hobson, a high-profile business executive and co-founder of the Lucas Museum, has resigned from the LA28 board, the organizing committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Hobson, who is married to filmmaker George Lucas, did not respond to requests for comment and LA28 declined to comment. The Lucas Museum is scheduled to open to the public on Sept. 22 after a series of preview events. People close to Hobson say she told colleagues her priority is ensuring the museum's successful launch.

Pressure From Local Activists

Her departure comes amid sustained pressure from the Fair Games Coalition, a local progressive activist group that has targeted Hobson over her role on the Olympics committee. The coalition has demanded a meeting to press priorities tied to the 2028 Games, including union jobs, protections for undocumented workers and increased funding for affordable housing. Activists protested outside a museum event on Sept. 13 and have announced plans to demonstrate again during the museum's high-profile inaugural celebration, which will be co-chaired by Tom Cruise, Greta Gerwig, Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro and Pharrell Williams. The group has branded the planned action the 'Rebel's Gala.'

Victor Sanchez, executive director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, a leading member of the coalition, said that everyday Angelenos deserve leaders who will 'step up, not step down, to meet the collective crises we are facing.' He added that the coalition continues to call on Hobson, the Lucas Museum board and LA28 leaders to embrace a legacy that uplifts local communities.

Broader Scrutiny Of LA28

LA28 has faced a range of public criticisms in recent months, from ticket pricing and rising security costs to transportation planning and governance questions. Board chair Casey Wasserman has come under scrutiny after revelations about his association with Ghislaine Maxwell; Wasserman later relinquished his ownership stake in his management company, which subsequently rebranded.

In the aftermath of Donald Trump's return to the presidency, Wasserman reshaped the LA28 board to include several figures with direct ties to the new administration, including former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a move that drew local criticism. Wasserman told THR that his stated intention was to ensure the Games represent the nation broadly: these are 'America's Games.'

Hobson's Background And Civic Roles

Hobson is co-CEO of Ariel Investments and a former chair of Starbucks and DreamWorks Animation. She serves on several prominent boards and institutions, including JPMorgan Chase, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Center for Strategic & International Studies, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. The Lucas Museum, financed in large part by Lucas' fortune, is sited in South Los Angeles and has highlighted community programs such as free neighborhood access as part of its public mission.

Updated Sept. 17, 3:50 pm: This story was revised to include a statement from a representative of the Fair Games Coalition.