Bomb Voyage Cosplayer at FWA 2024

Overview

Bomb Voyage Cosplayer at FWA 2024 refers to a controversy surrounding X / Twitter user @Superb__Pedro who attended Furry Weekend Atlanta 2024 dressed as Bomb Voyage from The Incredibles. Footage of Pedro's cosplay went viral online throughout the convention dates, including photos and videos of Pedro wielding a prop firearm (specifically an M16A2 with an M203 grenade launcher). Some X users, including people who attended the convention, expressed concerns over the mock gun being allowed into the convention and voiced opinions that the inclusion of the fake weapon was in poor taste and inappropriate. Pedro made a statement amid the controversy reiterating that the gun was a prop, had an orange tip, was approved by convention staff and was borrowed from another cosplayer.

Background

Between May 9th and 12th, 2024, the furry convention Furry Weekend Atlanta 2024 took place at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, Georgia. X user @Superb__Pedro attended the convention in Bomb Voyage cosplay, a costume he has gained viral attention for in the past.^[1]

Images and videos of Pedro in the cosplay appeared on X as early as May 10th, including images of Pedro holding prop guns (examples shown below).^[2][3]

Developments

On May 13th, 2024, X^[4] user @SnowballTheFur posted several photographs of Pedro in his cosplay aiming a prop gun around the convention from a balcony, writing, "Bomb Voyage pulling off another flawless crime is the best way to end #FWA2024," garnering over 6,000 likes and 900 reposts in a day (shown below).

The images inspired backlash from some X users, including furries, who expressed that they found the addition of the fake gun to the cosplay "in poor taste" and "inappropriate."

On May 13th, X^[5] user @VVIXUNE posted, "If I saw this from a distance at a furry con I genuinely think I'd have a panic attack idk why this is something anyone thought was appropriate," garnering over 300 likes in a day.

On the same day, X^[6] user @Floofocalypse posted, "It's inappropriate to be running around in crowded spaces with realistic guns, especially pointing them at people. We live in a world where mass shootings occur way too often, and that's a deep fear for many people in public," garnering over 600 likes in a day.

Also on May 13th, 2024, X^[7] user @FirriApril posted, "I am never stepping foot to American conventions how is this funny or acceptable," garnering over 22,000 likes in a day (shown below, left). X^[8] user @LinkofSunshine posted, "Ngl pulling out an unmarked prop gun in a crowded hotel is probably the fastest way to get yourself killed in America," garnering over 100,000 likes in the same span of time (shown below, right).

Superb__Pedro's Response

On May 14th, 2024, X^[9] user @Superb__Pedro, the cosplayer, quote-reposted @LinkofSunshine's post claiming he was holding an "unmarked prop gun." In the post, which garnered over 4,500 likes in under a day, he apologized for pointing the gun at people and for unintentionally scaring people, but cleared up some misconceptions about the cosplay and gun, writing:

1. The “weapon” I am holding is a prop which is marked with an orange tip and ribbon. The orange tip was very visible to everyone in the atrium, it's just difficult to see through the pictures.
2. The prop was cleared as okay to use by the convention staff and Atlanta police.
3. The prop is not mine. It was borrowed from another cosplayer for a brief period.

It’s honestly sad how much attention this is getting. There are far more important things to focus criticism on at conventions: SA, inappropriate behavior, inappropriate attire in public places, and the list goes on.

I do apologize for pointing the gun at people as I realize that was inappropriate of me to do that. I did not intend to scare or threaten anyone.

Search Interest

Unavailable.

External References