What exactly happened at the Ohayocon? It’s a tale of turmoil, controversy, and a fractured community.
Ohio’s long-standing anime convention, Ohayocon, dating back to 2001, is now facing unprecedented challenges, with over 90 individuals, including former senior leadership members and volunteers, boycotting the event scheduled for January 19-21.
So, What led to this unprecedented situation?
Ohayocon, Ohio’s oldest anime convention, set for January 9-21, 2024, is embroiled in controversy. The turmoil stems from the establishment of Cultural Exchange Society Inc. (CESI) by the convention’s owner, Melissa Phelps, in pursuit of non-profit status. Former volunteers organized COVEN, voicing concerns about representation, financial transparency, and Phelps’ potential salary. The situation escalated due to logo disputes and the removal of key staff, resulting in a divided community and over 90 individuals boycotting Ohayocon 2024.
Explained: What’s the Problem at Ohayocon?
At the heart of the Ohayocon issue lies the formation of Cultural Exchange Society Inc. (CESI) by Ohayocon owner Melissa Phelps. While Phelps has claimed involvement in the con since 2000, she became the sole owner of Ohayocon and formed CESI in 2022.
CESI aimed to secure non-profit status for the convention, but doubts arose with the emergence of COVEN.
Conventions of Ohio Volunteer Event Network (COVEN), formed by former Ohayocon volunteers, voiced concerns about volunteer representation, financial transparency, and Melissa Phelps’ potential salary.
A Reddit post by former Ohayocon gaming director Ben “Chuloon” Ng alleged “non-stop abuse” from Phelps (via Anime News Network).
Matters escalated when Ohayocon’s logo sparked controversy for potential violations. The logo controversy reached its peak when it was found that the convention’s red cross violated the Geneva Conventions.
A blue variant might have infringed on Blue Cross Blue Shield’s trademark, and a Sakura blossom version could be mistaken for Sakura of America’s logo.
What seemed like a minor logo change became a catalyst for bigger concerns, sparking a dispute over the design and raising doubts about CESI’s leadership.
In October 2022, the convention director and marketing director were abruptly removed. Later, COVEN initiated talks with CESI, demanding fair compensation, transparency, and more.
The fallout from these events led to over 90 individuals boycotting Ohayocon 2024. The convention’s official Discord server became a platform for criticism and heated discussions.
CESI countered accusations, stating that unpaid volunteers cannot form unions due to labor laws. They encouraged volunteers to communicate their needs and aspirations through individual correspondence or collective bargaining.
Despite scheduled dates, Ohayocon 2024 appears to be under a cloud of uncertainty.
Posts on social media platforms indicate a lack of attendees and vendors, with some, like @WraithGames, pulling sponsorship in solidarity with COVEN and the former Ohayocon Leadership Team.
The future of this iconic Ohio event remains uncertain as the controversy continues. Only time will tell the fate of Ohayocon.
Will Ohayocon weather this storm and emerge stronger, or is it facing an uncertain future? How will the community heal and rebuild? And what lessons can other conventions learn from this complex saga?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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