EGX 2023 panelists call for increased security after alleged sexism and harassment
A number of panelists who took part in a community manager talk during EGX 2023 have been calling on event organizers to increase security at future panels after sexist and derogatory comments were allegedly shouted out while they were speaking.
The panel in question was called ‘What Does A Community Manager Really Do?’, and it took place on the first day of this year’s EGX in London’s ExCel center, on October 12. As TheGamer reports, one of the panelists was Raw Fury’s senior community manager, Gemma Garner, who after the panel, tweeted: “I hope the three middle-aged men who came to our talk at EGX just to make loud comments on whether or not we’re f***able and talk over us about woke culture have the worst weekend ever.
“Security were angels after the fact[,] I just wish they’d been there as it happened.”
Today (October 16), Garner tweeted more about the alleged incident, stating that the individuals had made homophobic and sexist comments, and had commented on the panelists’ clothing and “whether or not we’d expose ourselves”. She alleged, noting that EGX was apparently aware of how “violent” some comments had been: “It’s worth mentioning that following this incident, EGX have done nothing. There was no follow-up, no looking at CCTV, no concern except for an apology when our tweets blew up.”
Speaking to TRG via email, Garner tells us: “The incident wouldn't have escalated had there been security assigned to the stage. This was almost entirely dealt with by event-goers, and eventually a handful of helpful security.
“It's mind-blowing that the UK's largest gaming event wouldn't protect its speakers, particularly those that are more likely to receive harassment. Not only was nothing done in the moment, I'm disappointed to
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