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Tana Mongeau said safety was her “number one priority”
YouTube star Tana Mongeau has apologised for her event TanaCon, which had to be shut down on Saturday.
Mongeau held her event in the same location in California as VidCon after falling out with its organisers.
She advertised tickets and VIP packages, but also said people would be able to queue and get in for free.
“I’m an idiot and I’m sorry” she tweeted, adding that security and safety was her “number one priority”.
She had told fans that “20,000 people showed up outside, which is unsafe anywhere”.
She said the event was a “horrible, bump in the road”, adding that she took “full blame”. She told fans: “It’s still so important for us creators to continue using our voice & platform & giving our fans what they deserve.”
Good Times, which organised the event, apologised for the “safety hazard” created by overcrowding.
In a statement, the company said “we are so grateful for each and every one of you who showed support for TanaCon and Tana’s dream of inclusivity”.
They continued: “Due to an overwhelming and unexpected response of over 15,000 unregistered guests arriving to the venue Friday morning, unfortunately, inclusivity to everyone became a safety hazard for the exact people we wanted to accommodate.”
The organisers said they were prepared for 5,000 attendees, but when queues outside reached over three times that, they were forced to cancel.
BBC