‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 had a breakout star Joseph Quinn, who became a fan favourite playing Eddie Munson. The actor recently made an appearance at the London Film and Comic Con fan convention but with many fans eager to meet the 29-year-old, the situation got out of hand and several online accounts seem to suggest that Quinn was mistreated by the event organizers. When the incident was brought up by a fan in a Q&A session later, the actor cried and the video has now gone viral.
Here’s what happened at the meet-and-greet with Joseph Quinn, from the perspective of an attendee and that of Showmasters, promoters of the London Comic-Con.
A mismanaged event
As per a Twitter user, Kim-Yi Phung, nobody was at fault for what happened except for Showmasters and some people “stalking” the ‘Stranger Things’ actor.
“A large portion of diamond passes for Joseph Quinn did not enter at 9am and had to wait 1 & half hours to get in. Apparently by a one in one out system”, the Twitter user said.
The attendee continued, “there was stories of staff yelling at Joseph Quinn for taking too long. Many fans were young children also…(sidenote) i saw a young girl crying…”.
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The Twitter user further said, “Terrible experience for kids. Through stories and seeing it myself, Joseph clearly wanted to be more gentle and kind of his younger fans. There was apparent yelling and mardy faces on by staff when kids wanted to give gifts. Other people had to put their gifts in boxes.”
The attendee added, “It just saddens me so many people paid for an experience with Joseph Quinn and did not get what they was paid for because showmasters and only them could not be professional and organised.”
The Twitter user, who’s 20 as per his bio, concluded “Joseph Quinn was so lovely and generous to stay from 9am to 6pm with one lunch break for all his fans!!! This is a lot for what would be known as a “breakout star”. Not only do the fans deserve better but he does too.”
Disputing the stories
Jason Joiner, the Director of Showmasters Events, disputed the internet’s version of events in a long thread.
It started with acknowledging nobody could have predicted “how popular he was going to be over the weekend” before clarifying that Quinn was never in any danger or overworked during the Comic-Con appearance.
The Twitter thread also denied that the actor was shouted at.
“There are a few untrue stories going around about Joseph & his family members being shouted at by his security team, which are 100% untrue. There is a story about Joseph being treated badly by the event organisers that is also 100% untrue. There is a story about Joseph being overworked & the event being oversold which again is 100% untrue”, the explanation reads.
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The statement also said the event was “undersold” not oversold as internet accounts made it seem, and the crowding was because it was the first time for many of Quinn’s fans at the LFCC and turned out to be a learning experience.
The attendee who posted the account of events on Twitter, however, brushed off the promoter’s explanation, saying “Showmasters has released a long statement essentially refusing to take accountability, blaming the fans and straight up lying about Joseph Quinn not being oversold *sigh*.”
