An Interview With Akakioga Cosplay: How Universal FanCon Blindsided & Screwed Over Its Supporters
In light of recent events surrounding the Universal FanCon scandal (details here), in which a convention that was two years in the making decided to cancel 1 week prior to its scheduled event date, I reached out to the people financially and emotionally impacted by the con’s sudden cancellation. One of the people I spoke to for a brief interview was Akakioga Cosplay, who was chosen to be a cosplay guest of FanCon.
How did you feel when you were first contacted about becoming a guest? What did a convention like FanCon mean to you?
When I was contacted to be a guest, it was an amazing feeling! I love being able to guest at cons already, but for a con that seemed dedicated to POC, minorities, disabilities, and the like, it would’ve been amazing to represent that because that’s what I stand for in what I do as a cosplayer.
I’m hindsight, did you notice any signs that the convention would come to this?
In hindsight, not a ton. They had given me a pretty hefty contract that was legit. Communication was a little spotty, but I let it go cause I understand running a con takes a lot of effort. But what ultimately got me worrying is when the other cosplay guests also hadn’t heard anything from the guest coordinator for months. We had been given no schedule or the like. And of course we were figuring this stuff out merely a few weeks before this whole fiasco
How did you get the news of the convention’s postponement? How did this make you feel?
I got the news via TWITTER! No one emailed any of the guests. Someone on twitter screenshot their email they got for being an original backer and showed everyone. Then Fancon decided to follow suit and announce it on Twitter too. It was the most unprofessional, lack of transparency I’ve ever seen in my life. I couldnt be more disappointed.
FanCon insists there will be a future event; how likely would you be to attend if this is truly the case?
They insist but honestly I doubt anyone will trust them now. The marginalized community of people who supported this con were taken advantage of both money wise as well as emotionally. Whether Fancon comes back or not is not the question. Because the people they hurt will never forget and will more than likely keep Fancon from ever truly being successful. I’m so disappointed in this con cause I saw so much potential, but we were all fooled. You will never fool us again.
Akakioga Cosplay is just one of many to be affected by the incompetence of the convention’s cofounders, and their decision to cancel the convention at the very last moment on April 20, 2018 (despite claiming to have realized that they didn’t have the financial resources to make them happen on April 3rd, 2018). Many of the people who supported and believed in this convention invested their own money into it via the convention’s KickStarter Campaign, as well as through private investments, donations, and purchasing badges to attend. This does not even begin to cover the time and money vendors spent to create goods specifically to sell at the con, using space they had to purchase themselves (which was still being sold just one day prior to the con’s cancellation). This also doesn’t cover the money spent on non-refundable plane tickets, hotel rooms, and a multitude of the other expenses that come with attending and/or selling at a convention as large as Universal FanCon made itself out to be.
As far as an explanation that justifies causing all the heartache and financial burden FanCon has left in its wake, the convention’s founders have offered little in the way of real explanations and answers concerning what led to this disaster. One of the cofounders has issued a statement, but it was deemed unsatisfactory by many, myself included, as it failed to address why and how a convention that boasted about ticket sales on Twitter, lost so much money and decided to wait until the last minute to address it.
https://twitter.com/iwriteallday_/status/987827389844590592?s=21
How the hell are you the head of outreach anyway and not know you haven't even bought the damn tickets for guests? She had to be checking the money cuz then that was part of her job. She needed to make sure the community she outeached ya know could make it.
— Alexis Sara 🏳️⚧️ 🏳️🌈 TSL (@TransComics) April 22, 2018
“I am Jamie Broadnax, the founder of Black Girl Nerds and a member of Universal Fan Con”
This is your first sentence. You’re a “member” now. But your bio said cofounder of FanCon and we have screenshots of it.
The positioning of this is gross.
— Joi Childs (@jumpedforjoi) April 21, 2018
*raises hand* so I have a few questions. If April 3 was the date that you, as co-founder, became aware there was a chance #UniversalFanCon didn't have the range, how were you "blindsided" 48 hours ago? Wasn't the deficit an active, monitored issue for the past 3 weeks?
— IllNana Vanzant (@kinkythought) April 22, 2018
Other founders have said even less, with one even opting to temporarily lockdown his twitter account rather than address this madness. Some people have summarized the founders’ reactions this far
Summary of Universal Fancon Fiasco after 48 hours (THREAD):
— 24÷3=8 (@RealLordDalek) April 22, 2018
(It should be noted that @DarthGeekonius locked down his Twitter shortly after saying he took full responsibility, and then made a series of tweets saying people were being mean to him, which he deleted minutes later)
The founders need to be held accountable. Continue to ask questions and demand real answers. Demand the people responsible take full ownership of their mistakes and do everything they can to make it right. Demand they do the right thing because like Akakioga Cosplay, many of the people who were promised an inclusive convention, were blindsided and hurt by the news of its cancellation. They, the creators, artists, and ticket purchasers, are left without faith in the convention’s founders, and with little hope in the way of receiving refunds or being financially compensated for all the resources that have gone to waste over Universal FanCon. It’s depressingly ironic that a convention which promised to center marginalized groups like women, POC, and the LGBTQ+ community, ended up leaving them with a huge financial and emotional burden, and without the space, opportunities, and event they were expecting.
To support the artists and creators impacted, consider purchasing from their shops. For attendees, consider showing them resources that will help them recoup their losses from badge purchases and travel expenses. Some helpful links are listed below:
FanCon Virtual Artist Alley (note, this was the effort of people unaffiliated with the FanCon founders)
Here is a thread of things/accounts to look out for so that your time in Bmore is still amazing. #UniversalFanCon #FanCon https://t.co/6dQ8vOLO5E
— Yori (@AnAmazingFeat) April 21, 2018
[THREAD] Hey #FanCon fam… if you're facing financial hits for travel and lodging due to #UniversalFancon , I've had a lot of success recovering funds using the following methods…
— Cherra (@WildYoungCharm) April 21, 2018
~DeLa Doll
Insta📸. Patreon🖌. Facebook👥. If you liked this article, consider supporting my writing and cosplay work on Patreon! For just $1, you instantly get access to exclusive content like pin-up photosets, tutorials, WIP pics and early blog post previews!
DeLa Doll is a culture writer, cosplayer, and artist based in Florida. She has been writing professionally since 2016, with some of her work being featured on sites like HuffPo and /Film. She is an advocate for meaningful diversity and representation in media, a gamer, a mom, and an avid user of DIY hair dye.
