FanimeCon fosters an unsafe environment for attendees and volunteer staff by allowing staffers with a documented history of sexual harassment, assault, and stalking to remain in their organization and interact with the public. At least 3 individuals have so far been found by Failed By Fanime, a counter movement created to bring FanimeCon’s issues to light.

Failed By Fanime was created in February of 2024, when 120+ FanimeCon volunteer staff resigned from their positions in protest of unfair treatment, lack of compensation, and concerns regarding FanimeCon’s financial situation. However, it was quickly uncovered that FanimeCon has a pervasive issue of protecting volunteer staff with a history of harassment.

As the months passed and FanimeCon 2024 grew closer, more issues came to the forefront, including, but not limited to:

• FanimeCon promised refunds to its attendees during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Those refunds have not yet been fulfilled.
• There were concerns of embezzlement to the tune of anywhere between 250k-656k by FanimeCon’s former Chief Financial Officer, which was discovered due to a lawsuit filed by FanimeCon’s parent organization- the Foundation for Anime and Niche Subcultures. This lawsuit has since been settled out of court, but neither FanimeCon nor its parent company has offered any explanation of what happened.
• California’s Franchise Tax Board has rejected the Foundation’s tax returns for 2018, 2019, and 2022. There has not yet been a filing for 2023’s taxes, either. The reason for the rejected filings is due to missing audits required by the state of California for any nonprofit that raises more than 2 million dollars in 1 year. If the Foundation does not rectify this issue, they may lose their tax-exempt status.
• FanimeCon has not had an accessibility department since 2016, resulting in a severe lack of oversight regarding accessibility for disabled individuals at the convention.

Why should you care?

FanimeCon is more than just an annual event; it's a vibrant community that brings together thousands of anime enthusiasts, artists, and creators. The potential shutdown of FanimeCon due to these unresolved issues would mean:

• Loss of Community: FanimeCon provides a unique space for fans to connect, share their passion, and build lasting friendships. Its shutdown would disperse this tight-knit community.
• Economic Impact: Local businesses and vendors who rely on the influx of attendees would suffer financially, impacting the broader community.
• Cultural Significance: FanimeCon has a rich history of celebrating anime and Japanese culture, fostering creativity and cultural exchange. Losing this platform would be a significant cultural loss.
• Missed Opportunities: The convention offers invaluable opportunities for artists, creators, and small businesses to showcase their work, network, and grow. Its absence would mean fewer opportunities for these groups.

What can we do?

As of right now, Failed By Fanime has called for a Boycott until FanimeCon fixes these and other issues. The demands Failed By Fanime has asked for are: 

     1. Sexual Assault/Harassment Reforms.

• All FanimeCon staffers who have a known history of credible SA/SH reports at FanimeCon should receive a permanent ban from staffing or attending future FanimeCons.
• Update the Public Code of Conduct to include clear and concise procedures and investigations into SA/SH issues. These investigations should be performed by FanimeCon’s staffing department AND a neutral 3rd party. (The Foundation for Anime and Niche Subcultures is not a neutral 3rd party.) Enforcement and utilization of this newly updated code of conduct should be of the highest priority- no more reports should be “slipping through the cracks.”
• All members of FanimeCon staff and Board of Directors should undergo mandatory, yearly SA/SH training. Failed By Fanime recommends partnering with  The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center (OVC TTAC), the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CEPDV) and/or VALORUS.
• FanimeCon Staff should be vetted via a background check. Staffers should not be allowed to staff if they have been convicted of a violent crime. 

     2. Refunds
        Make good on promised refunds from the COVID years (2020-2022).

     3. Accessibility.
        Rebuild the accessibility department to include an ADA advocate & comply with federal and state ADA standards. This department should work in tandem with other departments to ensure their programming or public facing posts are accessible to all. This department should also be on-site or work closely with the Info Desk department to help those with accessibility needs access the accommodations they need to enjoy the convention.

     4. Update and reform staff benefits.
         Staff benefits should include:

• A free or deeply discounted hotel that is close to the staffer’s area of work.
• A proper food budget that is allocated to all staff members and should be standard across all staff.
• A dedicated staff outfit, large accessory, or uniform to make staff more easily identifiable.
• Discounted parking.
  All staff perks and benefits must be posted publicly on FanimeCon’s website.

     5. Finances.
         Fix all issues with the Franchise Tax Board and the Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.

We, the undersigned below, agree to boycott FanimeCon 2025 until these reforms are met!

(If you would like to learn more about Failed By Fanime or wish to email us, visit our website at failedbyfanime.com or email failedbyfanime@gmail.com!)