SDCC defends November in-person event following social media backlash

Though Comic-Con International has once again decided to host its annual four-day summer convention online in 2021, the announcement that the organizers are planning a smaller, “special edition” in-person event to take place in November has stirred up no small amount of controversy.

As it has been scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend, many voiced their criticisms-saying that they’d rather spent the holiday with families and loved ones, as most missed out on the annual gathering in 2020, due to the raging coronavirus pandemic and CDC recommendations to avoid travel.

Several in the entertainment industry shared their perspective on the event which lead to highly critical remarks on social media – so many, in fact, that the word “Thanksgiving” trended nationally.

Linda Ge – a writer for the upcoming CW series Kung Fu-gave her insight on SDCC’s choice.

Several industry professionals tweeted similar reactions, stating that they would prefer to spend Thanksgiving with their families, rather than at a convention.

However, CCI doubled down on their original decision in a second statement released this week, explaining their reasoning behind the event while admitting that though they are “optimistic” about its prospects, there are many factors that remain “unknown” at this time.

"Comic-Con Special Edition was never intended to be the large gathering reflective of the summer event. As a shorter event, it was our attempt to start slowly and cautiously while at the same time addressing the desire from fans to have an in-person show. There are still many factors that are unknown to us at this time, including space accommodations, travel restrictions, capacity restrictions, and required safety protocols. While open to all and with the hope that we will be able to accommodate fans from all over, we understand that due to potential travel-based restrictions and challenges, Comic-Con Special Edition may be an event attended mostly by fans more easily able to travel to San Diego.  Currently we do not know whether having this event in November is even feasible as we are still in the midst of the pandemic and while we are optimistic about Q4, we have not been privy to any specific information on large gatherings. However, it was our desire to have something in place for our fans who have longed for an in-person event. We truly hope that you will join us for this entry back into the world of in-person celebrations of the community we so love."

The Thanksgiving weekend is usually swamped with travelers and increased airfares as a result of family gatherings. While it may still be early to determine what travel conditions will look like this  November, as the pandemic will still be present, though hopefully not on as elevated or dangerous a scale.

Furthermore, even if the majority of the U.S. population is vaccinated by November and existing CDC guidelines are followed, hosting such a large-scale indoor event still imposes risks.

The Comic-Con Special Edition) will be a smaller event, with attendance at an estimated 27,000 – a stark contrast to the 135,000+ that usually pack the San Diego Convention Center in July.

Theoretically, part of the reason for this event is to recapture some of the revenue lost by the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 summer events. Comic Con International has suffered financial losses from the pandemic, as many other businesses have.

No matter the reasoning, the outcry is not targeting CCI specifically, but rather the date that was chosen for this first in-person event.  Maybe if the event organizers listened to the opinions of its fans and the industry, a more positive response would have been generated.

What do you think though?  Do you agree with SDCC defending their choice, following the heavy backlash?  Let us know in the comments.