VidCon fans banned from approaching panelists in aftermath of Orlando
LOS ANGELES -- VidCon has doubled down on security in response to the weekend shootings in Orlando, including a ban on fans approaching creators after panels -- a practice that had become a major draw for the thousands of teens who flock to Anaheim to meet their favorite social-media stars.
Each panel will have at least three security guards, and the event as a whole will have over 450 security officers in attendance, nearly twice as many as last year. There will also be undercover police and random bag checks throughout the three-day conference, which will take place next week at the Anaheim Convention Center.
In a heartfelt, somber Tumblr post, conference organizers -- including co-founding Vlogbrothers John and Hank Green -- wrote about the enhanced security policies at this year's conference.
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YouTube musician Christina Grimmie was shot and killed Friday night in Orlando; less than two days later came the mass shooting at an Orlando gay club.
"This has been an awful weekend for our community and our world," the Green brothers wrote in the post. "Christina Grimmie was an innovator, and an artist, and she was so so kind. Losing her is devastating. And the attack in Orlando likewise drives home how much hate there is in the world. It’s awful. These things seem impossible, but they are real. As you might expect, security at VidCon will be different this year and we wanted to let you know what that means for you."
Perhaps the most significant change: "Creators won’t be able to linger after panels and the audience will not be allowed to approach the panelists."
"Previously, after panels many fans have come up to give creators gifts or letters or to ask questions and talk," the organizers wrote. "This will no longer be a thing ...This sucks; obviously, we don’t want to build a wall between creators and their communities, but it is unfortunately necessary."
Meet and greets -- a fundamental part of the entire VidCon experience -- will also have stricter rules in place. While there has always been a security officer assigned to every signing line, attendees will now have to pass through a metal detector before entering the hall.
This particular change likely stems from Grimmie's death. The singer was shot while signing autographs after an Orlando concert with the band Before You Exit.
"As in all years we want VidCon to be fun, but you can’t have fun without being safe," organizers wrote. "And the VidCon Team is committed to making sure that everyone’s safety is the number one priority."
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Topics Cybersecurity YouTube
Saba was a Los Angeles-based reporter who covers all things digital entertainment, including YouTube, streaming services and digital influencers. Prior to that, she spent two years at the Los Angeles Times covering entertainment for the Calendar and Company Town sections. Saba grew up in Santa Monica and graduated from Boston University with a B.S. in journalism and B.A. in political science. When not reporting, she is usually binge watching shows online or looking for new coffee shops to frequent.
