They are some questions one may have having seen Mayor Sylvester Turner's office tweet pictures from Friday's Anime Matsuri convention. The annual anime and cosplay event occured a few days ago in the George R. Brown Convention, and Turner made an appearance to become getting a great ol' time christening the proceedings in some Kyōjurō Rengoku robes (Rengoku is really a character in the popular anime series "Demon Slayer," for that uninitiated).
Mayor @SylvesterTurner became a member of @AnimeMatsuri founder Denise and @JASHouston Consul General Fukushima in the opening of the year’s convention at @GRBCC. Mayor Turner was outfitted as Kyōjurō Rengoku from Demon Slayers. pic.twitter.com/xc9TBHNIgP— Shaun Syptak (@JeffSyptak) This summer 9, 2021
This is not the very first time Turner has outfitted up for that convention.
#ItachiUchiha #Naruto starting off #AnimeMatsuri! #anime pic.twitter.com/ULk365Qugc— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) March 30, 2018
Mayor Turner had a lot of fun cutting the ribbon, presenting a announcement & touring the 2019 @AnimeMatsuri, an anime, Japanese culture & arts convention. Attendees will explore panels, workshops, Live Concerts and much more. This season, he outfitted as Goku from Dragon Ball Z. pic.twitter.com/OLIUUenAEw— Town of Houston (@HoustonTX) June 14, 2019
Old photos of Turner awkwardly cosplaying are entertaining, however a vocal number of local anime fans have expressed their displeasure in the mayor's annual presence in the Anime Matsuri, citing past sexual harassment allegations levied at convention organizer John Leigh.
HARASSMENT: Anime Matsuri founders have lengthy good reputation for impropriety accusations
Another year, another appearance by Houston's mayor at the very least trustworthy cosplay convention.@JeffSyptak / Twitter
As noted through the Houston Chronicle's Cary Darling, a lot of fans have boycotted Anime Matsuri through the years because of allegations that Leigh had sexually harassed women within the cosplay community at past occasions. Brought with a group named Boycott Anime Matsuri, the movement alleged that Leigh had slapped models' bottom, lifted skirts making lewd sexual comments toward women working the convention.
The boycott motivated Leigh and the wife, Deneice, to publish an apology around the convention's website in 2018. Leigh maintains he have been "joking around as buddies," per Darling. Organizers with Boycott Anime Matsuri weren't impressed at that time.
"[Leigh] did not offer any type of plan of action," an organizer told Darling in 2018. "It had not been him conceding and walking away from the convention. It had been him attempting to save his main point here."
Some haven't forgotten in 2021.
Maybe Mayor Turner should perform a a bit more suit and tie, instead of still support a convention that's a blight around the Texas disadvantage scene.Just a little parting article from Houston's hometown newspaper. Perhaps you should see clearly. Some "fun".https://t.co/oDUZ5P8Dl3— space princess (@HimeKakyuu) This summer 9, 2021
If Turner does be aware of event's past (appears like it would be hard not to, at this time), he does not allow it to stand when it comes to his annual dress-up and photoshoot.
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