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Alamo City Comic Con apologizes for costume contest host in apparent blackface

Host was dressed as character from 'A Goofy Movie'

(Image via Holli Cuomo)

SAN ANTONIO – Organizers with the Alamo City Comic Con issued an apology late Sunday night on Facebook for a costume that an emcee wore during the event while hosting a cosplay costume contest.

The emcee, Travis Lara, was dressed as the fictional, non-human character Powerline from “A Goofy Movie” and painted his face dark brown. 

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Photos surfaced online Saturday night and many people on social media criticized the costume, saying it was offensive and inappropriate since the host’s makeup appeared to be blackface. 

And for the next year in a row Alamo City Comicon goes down in flames...seriously this was the host of this year’s cosplay contest. Picture taken by Holli Cuomo

Posted by Ian McIntosh on Saturday, October 27, 2018

And for the next year in a row Alamo City Comicon goes down in flames...seriously this was the host of this year’s cosplay contest. Picture taken by Holli Cuomo

Posted by Ian McIntosh on Saturday, October 27, 2018

And for the next year in a row Alamo City Comicon goes down in flames...seriously this was the host of this year’s cosplay contest. Picture taken by Holli Cuomo

Posted by Ian McIntosh on Saturday, October 27, 2018

The host’s mother initially posted an apology on behalf of her son, writing he did his makeup with love for the character, but that apology has since been deleted. 

In the apology post, ACCC organizers said they were asked by Nana Cosplay if they could host the contest, but were later “taken aback by the cosplay chosen by them.”​​​​​​

ACCC organizers added, “We do not nor have we needed to prescreen host attire in the past. We fully understand how the cosplay worn can be hurtful and offensive.”

The full apology is posted below. Alamo City Comic Con ran from Friday to Sunday at the Alamodome.

ACCC was started in the spirit of inclusion and fellowship; it has always been about bringing people together. We were...

Posted by Alamo City Comic Con on Sunday, October 28, 2018

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