Social media and at least one blog were filled with negative comments from geekdom fans and celebrities about the show that took place last weekend at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
Most of the complaints revolved around the cancellations of headlining celebrities and people’s calls for refunds.
As we reported Friday in an update to our story on the second annual conference, neither Tony Todd from "Candyman;" Walter Koenig from "Star Trek; " Adrian Paul from the "Highlander: the Series;" nor David Warner from "Penny Dreadful," "The Omen" and "Tron" attended the show as previously advertised.
Organizers cited conflicting professional obligations and other unforeseen developments as reasons.
Yarbrough told us of the cancellations after deadline for Friday’s Active Dayton section, where the article previewing the event appeared in print. The information had been included in an earlier press release and videos featuring the canceled celebrities remained on the event’s website until Thursday. Yarbrough said the videos were on the site in error.
A correction was placed in Friday’s newspaper.
We are awaiting a call from Yarbrough.
The Epic-Con website says the following concerning funds: "Make sure to check site often for any guest cancellations, there are no refunds for cancellations. If you purchase a photo op or special VIP with a certain guest and the guest is cancelled then those purchases are refundable."
Yarbrough issued the apology below on the event's Facebook page:
“This is to address all of the issues from this past weekend. I want to deeply apologize to all of the attendees and vendors who feel betrayed, to the guests who were unable to attend and to the ones who did. I can admit mistakes were made and things did not go according to plan. I did not attempt to defraud anyone and there has been inaccurate statements being made that I never said. I am only one person with my family, not a large corporation with tons of money. I am a small business owner just like the rest of you. When I thought about doing Epic-Con Ohio, it was to help others out, it was to help Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, it was to help Dayton out. I have always cared about my reputation, my family and friends. I took a risk and took on more than I could handle. I listened to the wrong advice and didn’t head the warning signs and advice from others. I can’t erase what happened this weekend but I will make it right. It may take a while but I will. It is unfortunate that very vicious rumors that the show was canceled, the show had been shut down by the Fire Marshall, that I took all of the money and ran off; all of these falsehoods hurt my show, the vendors, and guests who actually took a chance and showed up. For everyone who says I didn’t care and was rude or didn’t apologize to people are wrong. I did speak to vendors and apologize. I did speak to guests and apologize. I know some of you will not support Epic-Con Ohio in the future but hopefully you will after a few years. I hope that whoever is responsible for the negative press and rumors that were actually started earlier this year will back off. Understand that when you are being bombarded by angry celebrities and vendors it is impossible to go around and speak to people individually, I did the best I could while dealing with my health issues which flare up even more with stress. I had to be taken to the EMS on site because of it. If I was out of it, it’s because most of the time I was trying to keep from passing out, no sleep for weeks as well as not eating and barely drinking for days. I jeopardized my own well being for this show for it to just crumble. I know now how to correct the problems and hope that I am given the opportunity to redeem my name and reputation. Some of the things being done and said are wrong and I will prove so.
I know there will be a flood of negative, hurtful, and demeaning comments and private messages coming my way. I do appreciate and welcome any constructive criticism because that actually helps to grow and improve which is my goal for future shows.
Once again I sincerely do apologize and I also want to thank everyone who has supported me from the beginning and still do even though you too are being persecuted.”
— Sheri LeAnn
Contact this blogger at arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com or Twitter.com/DDNSmartMouth
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