Giant Spacekat pulls booth out of PAX East amid safety concerns

In an email statement, Giant Spacekat’s Brianna Wu has said she’s pulled her studio’s booth from PAX East due to safety concerns.

“Working a PAX show floor means interacting with thousands of strangers a day for three days,” Wu said. “Given that two of our most serious threats have come right here in Massachusetts, that threat is something I must take seriously as a leader. In addition to threats of violence, my team is frightened of being harassed by GamerGate supporters.

“We had a conversation as a team, and they voted. They do not feel comfortable with this. As their leader, I heard that and I’m going to respect it.”

Wu claims to have made repeated calls to PAX East organisers to discuss her fears, but says her calls were not returned.

“I called them on three occasions trying to talk to them about security concerns, and did not have my calls returned,” Wu said. “I was able to attend both Arisia and Boskone, events taking place at the hotel next to PAX, with the help of their security teams. I’d hoped to come to a similar arrangement with PAX East.”

Wu has made repeated claims her safety is continually at risk, with her most recent article on the Huffington Post titled, “I’m Brianna Wu, and I’m Risking My Life Standing Up to Gamergate”. Wu claims to be in touch with authorities regarding specific men who are issuing death threats, though no arrests have been made.

Giant Spacekat’s head has also appeared in an interview with David Pakman, in which she outlines her treatment in the face of GamerGate.

PAX East organisers, speaking with Polygon, have released the following statement on the matter:

The safety of our attendees, panelists and exhibitors is the number one priority for PAX. To achieve this, the show:

• Conducts bag searches for all people entering the building
• Has Boston PD in addition to the in house Building Security on site during all hours of the show
• Enforces the six rules of PAX at every event, since the very first PAX
• For the safety of our attendees, exhibitors and panelists we cannot divulge the specifics of our security programs. That said, the well-being of everyone attending PAX always has been and always will be the highest priority for the city of Boston, the convention center and PAX. ​

​PAX prides itself on helping tens of thousands of gamers come together to share what they love most, in a safe environment.​​

Law enforcement officers in Arlington, of whom Wu says she’s engaged with details of threats, declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.