Branding Trump Supporters as ‘Nazis’ May Doom this Pennsylvania Con

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In the realm of commerce and event organization, knowing your intended audience is vital for achieving success. By tailoring to local preferences and avoiding the estrangement of prospective patrons, fundamental principles are upheld. However, it’s astonishing to note that a long-standing science fiction convention in Western Pennsylvania appears to be disregarding these essential business wisdoms.

Clownfish TV has been prohibited from attending Sci-Fi Valley Con, a well-known fan convention in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after a disagreement over the organizer’s social media posts criticizing Trump supporters. As per Fandom Pulse’s reporting, the event organizer referred to Trump supporters as “simple Nazis” on Facebook, which caused controversy given that the region where the event takes place saw around 70% of voters backing Trump in the recent election.

Since Kneon pointed out the strange behavior of folks arguing politically on Facebook and even suggesting they unfriend each other, some of these individuals were utilizing iPhones in the process.

— Geeky Sparkles (@desert_starr_57) March 5, 2025

At a convention’s Facebook page, the TV hosts Neon and Sparkly Shimmer, who had consistently backed and publicized the event in the past, found themselves barred after challenging the organizer’s statements. The hosts were taken aback by this abrupt exclusion, pointing out their lengthy history of advocating for the convention. This situation recalls comparable disputes that have arisen in recent times, where individuals have been disinvited from conventions based on their political views, such as Kevin Sorbo’s prohibition from East Coast Comic Con, Larry Correia’s withdrawal from Origins Game Fair, and Jon Del Arroz’s exclusion from WorldCon 76 in 2018, for which they successfully sued the organizers.

The ban on Clownfish TV has sparked discussions about political divisions among fan groups and demands for a more welcoming atmosphere at conventions. Most people believe that excluding attendees based on politics might jeopardize the success of such events and drive away considerable segments of their fan base, but it seems that the organizers are not swayed by this argument.

On March 10, 2025, neither the Sci-Fi Valley Con nor its organizers have issued any additional public statements regarding the current situation. Feel free to express your opinions in this space.

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2025-03-10 16:30