ApeFest, an event organized by Yuga Labs, creators of the Bored Ape Yacht Club and Mutant Ape Yacht Club NFTs, concluded with controversy after several visitors reported vision problems after attending the event. Yuga Labs, which took center stage, stated that less than 1% of total visitors were affected.
The festival taking place on November 4, 2023 in Hong Kong attracted the attention of the global crypto community. Even though it is not the achievements that are the center of attention, incidents experienced by several visitors are in the spotlight.
Some attendees reported experiencing vision problems, including eye burns, vision damage and "extreme pain" in their eyes after attending the event. Some of them even need medical treatment and have to pay a lot of money for eye treatment.
Yuga Labs, through their official account, acknowledged the existence of the report and is currently conducting an investigation. They stated that less than 1% of visitors had vision problems, and most of them had improved.
Many speculations have emerged regarding the causes of this vision problem. One of the emerging theories is the use of ultraviolet (UV) lamps by third-party contractors as a replacement for stage lights, which have been blamed for causing eye burns and vision damage.
Yuga Labs also received harsh criticism from a number of visitors. They blamed Yuga Labs for the incident, expressing that the organizers should have paid more attention to basic medical aspects that could be potentially dangerous.
Some visitors even revealed that they were forced to borrow money to attend the event and are now faced with medical bills they don't know how to pay.
Aside from the visual issues, Yuga Labs also faced criticism regarding the logistics of the event. Some visitors were disappointed with Yuga Labs' management of the event. They felt that Yuga Labs did not manage the event well, creating inconvenience for them.
