Who shot Andy Warhol and what was the motivation behind it?
On June 3, 1968, Valerie Solanas, author of the “shock-feminism” classic SCUM Manifesto and a regular of the Factory (Warhol’s studio), entered the studio and fired three shots at Warhol, nearly killing him. Although the first two rounds missed, the third passed through Warhol’s left lung, spleen, stomach, liver, esophagus, and right lung. Solanas then turned the gun on a companion of Warhol, Mario Amaya, injuring his thigh. Although Warhol (barely) survived these injuries, he never fully recovered. Solanas turned herself in to the police, and was charged with numerous offences, including attempted murder. After pleading guilty she received a three year sentence. Warhol refused to testify against her. Solanas later explained that “Warhol had too much control over my life.” In 1966, Solanas wrote a play entitled ‘Up Your Ass’, about a man-hating prostitute and a panhandler. In 1967 she asked Warhol to produce her play, and he was fascinated enough by the title of the play to accept the
