Fandom and Viewer Issues: "Fan" Is Short for "Fanatic"

[Souris]

Welp, bullying paid off for them again. JMo just tweeted that she's pulling out of the duo shot w/ Colin & the other duo shots, and will only do a solo and the group shot. So if SQ can't have their duo shot, they've accomplished that CS fans can't have one, either.

 

I cannot stand how everybody on this show makes concessions for the SQ bullies over and over and over again.

[Rumsy4]

How disappointing! I can't blame Jen, but it does rankle.

[Souris]

Everybody with this show is so afraid of upsetting fans of a crack ship, they won't even promote their canon couples anymore.

[Faemonic]

What other duo shots? Emma and Henry, which got this story rolling in the Land Without Magic in the first place? Daddy Charming and Emma being buddy cops? If it were either of those, I wouldn't mind if they'd added a duo shot with Emma and Regina...because that would just be a picture.

 

Instead, management resolved the issue by setting the bar for bully placation: ruining it for everybody.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Faemonic

[pezgirl7]

If I had purchased that photo op already, I would be so disappointed. This whole thing is ridiculous, and I feel really bad for the fans, Jmo, and the organizers. Sometimes I'm so embarrassed to be in this fandom.

[Emma]

It's disappointing but I just can't blame Jen for the decision. It must wear on a person to keep going through this same BS all the time. She shows more class than I ever could.

The sad thing is that Jen and Lana will be on opposite sides of the picture and the hate will be directed at Jen for it.

[Souris]

No, see, I think JMo & Lana will make sure to stand next to each other. This fandom, I swear to God.

[kitticup]

I am so angry. These SQ folks cannot be that big in number. Why doesn't everyone ignore them. I am tired on them being placated. Their whole once upon a hook campaign relegated Hook into background when he is a fan favorite.

[Camera One]

Lana is being problematic again. Not only did she retweet this pro SQ article saying that Regina will/should be the real hero of Season 5, she retweeted it from one of the most notorious and rude BA SQers on Twitter.

 

This article is similar, featuring some fan art of Dark Emma.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/once-upon-time-season-5-plot-fan-shares-first-look-emma-dark-one-regina-will-become-new-1502668

[RadioGirl27]

Welp, bullying paid off for them again. JMo just tweeted that she's pulling out of the duo shot w/ Colin & the other duo shots, and will only do a solo and the group shot. So if SQ can't have their duo shot, they've accomplished that CS fans can't have one, either.

I cannot stand how everybody on this show makes concessions for the SQ bullies over and over and over again.

I knew this was going to happen and I'm so disappointed. The message everyone involved with the show is sending is terrible, and I include Jen and the rest of the actors here too, and not only A&E. If they keep giving them what they want, it's never going to stop. The harassement is working (they don't get the SQ pic but they get the group pic and the CS fans don't get their pic) so they are going to keep doing it.

Edited May 24, 2015 by RadioGirl27

[october]

Welp, bullying paid off for them again. JMo just tweeted that she's pulling out of the duo shot w/ Colin & the other duo shots, and will only do a solo and the group shot. So if SQ can't have their duo shot, they've accomplished that CS fans can't have one, either.

 

This is infuriating. While I don't pay much attention to cons and I understand why this decision was made, I'm honestly disgusted right now. Something is really wrong with this fandom and the show runners and writers need to get together immediately to do some kind of damage control. There will always be Bad Apples and it won't be easy, but things can't go on like this. It'll only get worse with each new season. They need to stop coddling the kind of people who are driving their actors away from social media and making them have to read books on cyber bullying in their spare time.

 

 

This article is similar, featuring some fan art of Dark Emma.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/once-upon-time-season-5-plot-fan-shares-first-look-emma-dark-one-regina-will-become-new-1502668

 

I think I'm going to be sick.

 

ETA:

 

I think every fandom has bad apples. I've seen some from every fandom even those that have the same opinion as mines. I think the SQuers are just loud as hell.

 

I agree, but IMO the tricky thing about this situation (and it makes me feel sorry for the SQ shippers who want to enjoy the pairing in peace) is that the behaviour of those assholes has benefits for all fans of SQ, even those who are openly anti-bullying. Situations like this lead to attention for the pairing (good or bad, it all counts), buzz on social media, actors being asked about it in interviews and at cons, and the writers throwing SQers a bone in the show itself by undermining much of Emma's character to make her a Regina cheerleader. And any criticism of the pairing is smothered by fear of accusations of 'homophobia'.

 

We can say 'not all SQ shippers!' til the cows come home, but when your Bad Apples are so front and centre that con organisers are having to scrabble around and undo months of planning to appease them or stem the tide of abuse then it's on another level entirely. When other fans are being denied events they were looking forward to then this isn't a problem that just contains itself to a dark corner of the internet where we can ignore it. When actual gay people are accused of homophobia because they don't think to cater for the non-canon romance of two straight characters that's not activism and it's insults all queer people when it's allowed to pass itself off as such. When actors come home to find themselves being dragged on social media by people who are supposed to be fans of their character for something that isn't their fault then SQers can't just blame a vocal minority and pull out a 'no true Scotsman' argument to distance themselves from a group of people who shape their sub-fandom in such a profound way. The pairing itself is being fuelled by toxic behaviour and tantrums and it's impacting how other fans wholly unconnected to SQ are able to enjoy the show and its public events.

 

To use a computer programming analogy, the BAs aren't a bug, like it or not they're a feature of the SQ fandom. If I was a SQ shipper I'd feel alienated and frustrated by that.

Edited May 24, 2015 by october

[sharky]

The worst thing is that these aren't really SQ fans as much as they are Lana fans. No one went after Lana about not taking photos with Jen, did they? All Lana would have to do is tell her fans to back off and they would. And yet, nothing. I'm not surprised, she never does speak out and defend her fellow actors when this crap happens, but it's disappointing none the less.

And BTW, this isn't just some altruistic endeavor. These actors get a good portion of the money from these photos. So by throwing a temper tantrum, they took money away from two talented actors who are taking time out of their summer hiatus to go to these things and meet fans.

Edited May 24, 2015 by sharky

[Serena]

I'm disappointed and I will say I think Jen is following the worst possible tactic in appeasing those people instead of ignoring them. Only an handful of people on the Internet was aware of that "controversy", anyway.

[YaddaYadda]

All this bile and general vileness and these articles is starting to make me dread season 5.

 

A&E should have nipped this in the bud when they had the chance and they didn't.  I find it disheartening that giving into nastiness and bullying is the way to go for the show, the cons, the actors.  The message it sends is especially distressing.  

 

I hope this doesn't come out wrong (and I apologize if it does) but I don't get these accusations that anyone who doesn't support SQ is automatically a homophobe, is automatically a hater and discriminates against a minority group.  How about taking these accusations against people who truly deserve this?  I find it disgusting that this is what they use as a way to try and shame others.  

 

I hate SQ (but give me SleepingWarrior!).  I hate everything about it.  If Emma and Regina never shared the screen again, it wouldn't be soon enough for me, so I guess that makes me a raging homophobe and a hater.  

 

I was happy not knowing anything about this before I came on here this morning.  I shouldn't come in this thread unless I'm heavily medicated.

[mjgchick]

Wow, I'm sorry but I'd never let some entitled asshole fuck with my money. The fact that they feel like they have won when really no one does makes me just want to flip a table. Let's just hope Adam and Eddy don't try to change things. Please keep Regina and Emma far away from each other for S5A. Bullies shouldn't get their way. That's not how this works but I get it, Jen just wants to keep the peace so instead she does no duo photos.

[RedKeep]

No one went after Lana about not taking photos with Jen, did they? All Lana would have to do is tell her fans to back off and they would. And yet, nothing. I'm not surprised, she never does speak out and defend her fellow actors when this crap happens, but it's disappointing none the less.

Going by what I have seen, this is not true. I couldn't stomach much of what happened on Twitter yesterday, but most of those who persistently complained about not getting their "Swan Queen" duo photo option @ tagged both actresses and Lana Parrilla has been at the receiving end of hate and blame from a few CS bad apples repeatedly ever since Jennifer pulled out of the other duo photo ops because apparently that's somehow Parrilla's fault too now?

 

The idea that Lana Parrilla has more power over the SQ bad apples than others is also a little naive, if I may say so. Those crazies are wildly out of control and nothing anyone could say at this point is going to affect them anymore. The worst of them regularly switch back and forth between supporting Morrison and blaming Parrilla and then blaming Morrison and supporting Parrilla and back again and they see absolutely nothing wrong in their bipolar social media behavior. (There's this Larry Andreutti guy, a local set pap and wanna-be OUAT set "tour guide", who has been pandering to the SQ fans repeatedly and is also infamous for going back and forth between both actresses like that, depending which one of them comes out for photots and autographs more when OUAT is filming on location. He has apaprently been pushing the idea that Morrison was to blame for there not being a "Swan Queen" duo photo op at that con. Why anyone would actually listen to him is beyond me, though, since he knows as much about these things as any other random fan on the internet.)

 

What both actresses shouldn't do anymore, imo, but continue to do is to try and placate them. But that's where everyone involved with the show went wrong pretty much from the start and that's why the situation is so completely out of everyone's control now. Cast and writers all added to making them feel entitled and important and now no one seems to have the guts to change course. Instead they all keep making sure the bullies get their way. Very disappointing.

[Rumsy4]

I'm disappointed and I will say I think Jen is following the worst possible tactic in appeasing those people instead of ignoring them. Only an handful of people on the Internet was aware of that "controversy", anyway.

Good point! A handful of twitter bullies are getting their way because they are persistent, loud, and nasty. Calling JMo a diva, and accusing her of being jealous of Lana's "beauty and talent". Gimme a freaking break! I suppose it's a small mercy that Jen didn't go the other way, and actually agree to a duo photoshoot with Lana.

They have attacked Lana on occasion, but she has not been at the receiving end of the majority of twitter hate like JMo. However, I agree that Lana is not going to be able to influence these bullies to stop.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Rumsy4

[Mari]

All I hope this doesn't come out wrong (and I apologize if it does) but I don't get these accusations that anyone who doesn't support SQ is automatically a homophobe, is automatically a hater and discriminates against a minority group.

Because it's an effective weapon.

 

People do not want to be considered certain things; being an acknowledged racist or homophobic can not only ruin you socially, it can ruin your career.  If you can convince enough people that X is a racist or a homophobe, then people will no longer want to work with that person, and a lot of people won't want to be that person's fans.

 

Plus, there is a very small group of people that seem to believe if something is different than they think it should be, or makes them unhappy, it means they're a victim somehow, and we've been taught that victims are supposed to speak out to power and change things.  Which is true, although just because things happened differently than you wanted doesn't always make you a victim.

 

It means there's probably some true believers, who've convinced themselves that this is aggression against same sex pairings, and there are some who want the pairing, and are cynical enough to know they can say no SQ means A&E are homophobic, and it will bother and/or scare them.

 

*Note:  I am not saying that some people are not racist or homophobic, or that when they are they shouldn't be confronted.  I am only saying that because those things are increasingly looked down upon, accusing people of that is occasionally open to abuse.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Mari

[Serena]

I haven't seen SQers blaming Lana over this, I remember them bitching over some her her pro-OQ comments, but this has been somehow deemed Jen's fault. Also, apparently Lana is going on a Twitter hiatus.

[RadioGirl27]

I hope this doesn't come out wrong (and I apologize if it does) but I don't get these accusations that anyone who doesn't support SQ is automatically a homophobe, is automatically a hater and discriminates against a minority group.

They have been using homophobia as a weapon since the beginning, and even against gay people that doesn't ship SQ. I mean, I've seen them calling a lesbian not gay enough because she ships CS and not SQ. Or calling the girls that organize the Paris Con homophobic when they are a couple. And they use it because it's the only way they can get some relevance. When you are shipping an abuse victim with her abuser, you need something strong like homophobia to be relevant and talked about.

I haven't seen SQers blaming Lana over this, I remember them bitching over some her her pro-OQ comments, but this has been somehow deemed Jen's fault. Also, apparently Lana is going on a Twitter hiatus.

They almost never say anything to Lana, and if they do, she just makes some queerbaiting comment and they are happy again.

Edited May 24, 2015 by RadioGirl27

[mjgchick]

I really haven't seen Lana get anything but she must have if she's on a Twitter hiatus. With that being said, it's Jennifer who seems to always have to tip toe around talking about her characters relationship. Has anyone ever seen such a thing where a couple that's happening on the show must get as little promotion as they can like CS?

Edited May 24, 2015 by mjgchick

[YaddaYadda]

Also, apparently Lana is going on a Twitter hiatus.

 

Which is exactly what Jen should do.

 

I don't wanna generalize because generalizing sucks on all kinds of levels, but I don't think these people have been on the receiving end of true hatred for being gay or trans...my best friend, someone I grew up with and beyond loved had Holy Water thrown at him by his mother's priest when she dragged him to church after he came out to her.  He was the bravest person I knew.

 

When I see this kind of shit storm, it makes me wanna curl in a ball and cry because I find it deeply unfair to people like him for whom it was a true struggle to be gay because even in 1996, it wasn't the norm and it wasn't accepted and it was an every day fight for him because even though we lived in a country that was fairly open minded, in a province that was fairly open minded and a city that was accepting even back in those days, he still took beatings and he was still called a faggot and he was belittled for the way he felt and shamed for the way he wanted to live his life.  

 

And I just, I don't know...when I see stuff like what happens because of a fictional couple, it pretty much takes the wind out of my sails and I feel as though some just don't get it.  (On a more positive note, super proud to be Irish this weekend).

[BoPeeps]

One woman's opinion:  Twitter is a cesspool. It thrives on 140 characters from people who often have NO character. People who post nothing but hate and judgmental shit are cowards using social media to promote a particularly ugly brand of self-abhorrent asshole-ism. Give them as little credence as possible. If they make (the universal) you sick, block them, ignore them, refuse to address them other than to say *you are blocked*.  Attention is their crack cocaine. Cut them off. They won't ever disappear, but you won't have them littering your life with killjoy spooge.

 

Adam and Eddy will continue to write and tell the story they want anyway. They are marketing players as well. with strong egos. Their tendency is to create a few very strong female characters that for the most part put the male characters (no matter how appealing) on the sidelines. The progressive part of that scenario goes against fifty years of male dominated TV. Yes, there are heroes in shining armor or smoldering good-BadBoys, but they supplement some pretty kick ass woman. That resonates to millions of fans/viewers...the vast majority who have never set eyes on Twitter, Tmblr, Fan Fic sites or any message boards. They (and we) will chose to continue to watch for the kicks it gives us, or turn the channel for something else. We are passionate but fickle as well. If we concentrate on the positive (even though frustrating) aspects of this crazy show and take the power away from the asswipes by refusing to let them mean ANYTHING to us, we can continue to enjoy our specific quirky needs and support, in very upbeat ways, our enjoyment of the actors and characters we love. There will always be tons of subjects we can intelligently debate!!

 

Recently, Hook and Jamie (Outlander GOD) went head to head for TV hunk of the year on an entertainment site. Multiple voting allowed the site to reap the rewards of massive hits and gave fans the chance to out go nuts about voting frenzy. But they kept it fun. The actors eventually joined in (Ironically, on Twitter). It was for the most part, a frisky, fun way to back your personal favorite. (how though, could you really choose??? Jaysus, both are magnificent ), It highlighted the intelligent fun fandom can create. And that is what fictional adulation should be about. Why give a rat's ass to mean, ignorant people who do nothing but attempt to kill the joy? They are, actually, weak. Refuse to give them strength.

 

ONCE wise, I enjoy the edgy and intriguing relationship between Emma and Regina. And it doesn't involve any sexual attraction at all. Two strong willed, independent women facing fantasy frenzy while facing very realistic struggles between two women possessing vivid personalities. Anyone can Fan- fic to their heart's content about alternate possibilities than what actually is shown on the screen. Embrace that rewarding freedom (for ALL couples) but for crap's sake, have some personal class and maintain dignity along the way. Otherwise, prepare to be ignored.

[Souris]

 Why give a rat's ass to mean, ignorant people who do nothing but attempt to kill the joy? They are, actually, weak. Refuse to give them strength.

 

Because the show's writers and actors have actually given them strength. And that is where the problem lies. If TPTB didn't coddle and cater to them and try to placate them, it would be easy to ignore them. Just block, block, block. Instead, their hate and bullying actually changes things for the rest of the fandom. Yesterday was a perfect example. CS fans got something good taken away from them because of their badgering JMo and the event organizers. So they actually do have power, because TPTB gave it to them.

[sharky]

That's one the problems I have with this. By making that change, they justified the bullies being bullies. Seriously, there's a block button for a reason.

[Souris]

Excellent #NOtoBullying tumblr post.

[Serena]

Yes. What happens if/when, for example, EW wants to schedule a Colin and Jen photoshoot and these people hear of it ahead of time? If they make enough noise about how it's homophobic and not fair, will they change it, scrap it?

[Souris]

Well, that particular scenario wouldn't happen because Natalie Abrams of EW loathes Hook. But if it were TV Guide or some other outlet? You bet SQ would pitch a fit.

[Serena]

Natalie Abrams is a just writer for EW though, she has no power over who gets a photoshoot or the cover. That's between the ABC publicists and the EW editors. I doubt she particularly likes Snowing either, but they got the EW cover and not Woegina in S2. Anyway, you can substitute EW with TV Guide (I am still upset that the one time Once got a cover and photoshoot, it was with two guest stars and no regulars :( )

Edited May 24, 2015 by Serena

[BoPeeps]

So what if TPTB give them any notice? (Soft smile) TPTB won't dictate how I embrace my joy, either. That is essentially their baggage to carry or drag. If I never set eyes on/know about the Internet drama, I would still tune in on Sunday, get my fix and not let how TPTB do or do not handle moronic poobahs whining on Twitter make one bit of difference. I wish the rest of the fandom could concentrate on the things that strengthen their individual joy and realize that amazing collective power. The jerks would lose the one thing the feeds their ignorant behavior: attention. It really is as simple as refusing to let the little shits of the fandom make a personal difference to me.

The decision to let them affect people's enjoyment is what generates success in their petty little world. It has to start somewhere and the best place is in your own approach. :) I guarantee there will be enough pictures being taken at Cons that will make us all smile and feel good. Getting the right media pictures far supercedes the shallow blabbing of Twitter twerps

TPTB ultimately don't control my ABILITY to enjoy what I want to enjoy. They could Twitter-control themselves into an ulcer and it still wouldn't affect my ability to enjoy the eye and ear candy of my favorites when they show up at Cons and in episodes. They may not give me the story I want, how I want it given, (and that is a whole different angst!) but they are in the business of entertainment and the actors exist professionally on being seen and photographed.

I genuinely don't care about what brain mold bullies say or spew and wish it didn't badly affect my message board "comrades in OUAT" . Bottom line, I am the only one who allows things to negatively affect my enjoyment.

Ignore the asses.

[mjgchick]

Nice, some want people to blame the organizers, others want to pretend they didn't bully Jennifer into backing out of the photo shoots. This fandom.

[HoodlumSheep]

I wish they'd use this next convention to stage a bullying intervention in the Once fandom or something. I'm glad that I haven't been checking in here as much , or in tumblr, etc. as often now that it's pretty much summer. All this stuff is too depressing. Honestly I wish everyone on twitter involved with the show would threaten to (or actually follow through with) take a break from twitter or social media interaction until certain parts of the fandom got their acts together.

[pezgirl7]

I hate that a lot of SQers on tumblr feel like they're being bullied and attacked over this, but many are responding to hate with hate. That's just not going to help things. And I can't believe how many comments I saw saying that SQ is canon, they're 100% sure they are end game, that the majority of Once fans want SQ, and that CSers are just scared because after Emma sacrificed herself for Regina in the finale, they know their ship is not end game. How can you even have a meaningful discussion with people who are so sure of something?

[Faemonic]

 I can't believe how many comments I saw saying that ... CSers are just scared because after Emma sacrificed herself for Regina in the finale, they know their ship is not end game. How can you even have a meaningful discussion with people who are so sure of something?

I'm happy with CS mid-game. If there's never TLK, we'll always have the beanstalk climb. SQers who are moved to accuse and attack CS or OQ or Neal or Daniel or Graham or Walsh because why not, they will never be happy with anything.

[retrograde]

I'm disappointed and I will say I think Jen is following the worst possible tactic in appeasing those people instead of ignoring them. Only an handful of people on the Internet was aware of that "controversy", anyway.

I dunno, I think the worst possible tactic would be to have switched the shoot with Colin for one with Lana. My understanding is that she originally wasn't going to be part of the group shot and now she will be. This way she's kind of pleasing everyone and people who are fans of her and another actor/s don't have to pay for multiple separate shots. And the Swan Queen fans still aren't getting what they want, but they are no longer in a position to complain. She's also doing something kind for the organizers who are obviously really upset by the attacks and don't seem to be handling it very well. 

 

Ultimately, I'm sure the actors don't give two shits about the fandom dramas. Frankly, I'd be a little concerned if they did. I know people want to see various groups "punished" for their behaviour, but I imagine they actors just want to get through these conventions and life in general with minimum bullshit, so I really can't fault them for taking the path of least resistance. 

Edited May 24, 2015 by retrograde

[YaddaYadda]

She's also doing something kind for the organizers who are obviously really upset by the attacks and don't seem to be handling it very well.

 

Well that's because cons are supposed to be fun, not have you carry a bottle of pepto because you're now developing an ulcer.  I'm sure that's not what they had signed up for.

[retrograde]

Oh, I'm not having a go at the organizers. I'm sure they get no say in who is doing which photoshoots -- that would have all been the actors' publicists, and people demanding an "explanation" from them don't seem to understand that they can't talk about that BTS stuff (They're also battling a language barrier, which I'm sure makes it especially tough). But it's clear from their social media accounts that they're really shaken by the attacks and the sheer barrage of complaints , so JMo's fairly quick and decisive action on this one has probably spared them a lot of headaches. 

[YaddaYadda]

Oh, I'm not having a go at the organizers.

 

I didn't think you were, just to make sure.  The reply was a tad sarcastic, that's just the mood this crap has put me in.  There's one thing I'm not looking forward to when season 5 starts and the posts about how any scenes Lana and Jen share will be looked at as SQ placating, pandering and so on.  

 

I'm prepared to mentally check out when this inevitably starts happening.

[scenicbyway]

The worst thing is that these aren't really SQ fans as much as they are Lana fans. No one went after Lana about not taking photos with Jen, did they? All Lana would have to do is tell her fans to back off and they would. And yet, nothing. I'm not surprised, she never does speak out and defend her fellow actors when this crap happens, but it's disappointing none the less.

I agree with this, it's always JMo that has to calm everyone down.  It's ridiculous to me that Jen had to give up being photographed with fans and Colin because a few don't like the idea of the pairing.  Guess what?  Captain Swan is a canon couple.  They are boyfriend and girlfriend.  Emma is Hook's happy ending and Emma loves Hook. 

 

Just glancing at Lana's twitter, the most recent article she had posted was about how wonderful Regina is and how great it is she has Emma in her life.  Come on.  No mention of Robin or Hook.  She feeds the idea of Swan Queen and leaves Jen to be the one having to tip toe around the very fact that they are not a couple and are barely friends.

 

Emma sacrificed for Regina knowing that she should get her happy ending.  Emma also knew her family could save her when perhaps they wouldn't be able to save a dark Regina.  It makes sense now that they held the ILY for that sacrifice scene, they were apparently trying to balance Emma sacrificing for Regina with her ILY for Hook.  If the ILY wasn't in that scene, and the last thing we were left with was Emma sacrificing for Regina, it would've built up SQ even more.

 

That said, Jen shouldn't have changed the photo ops, it lets bullies win.  She should be able to take pictures with Colin.  I can't figure out who would want a Lana/Colin pic?

[sharky]

Slightly unpopular opinion is about to come out in my post -- you've been warned. But it sounds like the event people may have tip toed around the whole issue without giving an exact answer about why they did what they did, which may have brought on some of the extra hate and drama. It sounds like they seemed to have paired Jen up with random people and not Lana, which does look suspicious. Here's the pairs they posted [it's a FB post a few posts down the page], which included Jen with Victoria and Lana with Colin. OK, bad guys Lana/Colin I kind of get, but Emma and Cruella? Why? I'm not trying to defend the SQ trolls and drama, but that does seem kind of odd to pair Jen with Victoria and not with Lana when SQ, whether we like it or not, is a big ship in our fandom. If there was a scheduling issue, if Jen had to go back to her movie or something and they couldn't work it out, I have no problem with that. But then just say that and stop all the drama from the trolls with a logical explanation.

 

Or, as may be the case, Jen is starting to get sick of Lana's crap and refused to do a photo session with her and so the organizers took a bullet for her. Hell, if I was Jen, I would be getting sick of Lana's crap too.

[OnceUponAJen]

It's my opinion that people in general aren't owed an explanation. I saw many people saying that was all they wanted. But do you think for a minute that if the explanation didn't live up to expectations, it wouldn't have devolved into what it did anyway? It's entitlement. The organizers are planning it, like it or not. So go or don't go, but attacking people's motives based on pure speculation is not acceptable.

[scenicbyway]

Who knows if it's a Jen/Lana thing.  If I were Jen I'd be sick of being the bad guy in the situation.  My guess would be scheduling since Jen wasn't scheduled to be in the group shot initially.  But who really knows.

[sharky]

I totally agree, they don't owe anyone an explanation. But if it's a scheduling issue, just say so. Hell, if it isn't a scheduling issue and there's backstage drama, just say it's a scheduling issue. This is one of the reasons I don't like these fan-created conventions. It's nice and all but if you don't know what you're doing, it's going to become a mess at some point. There's a story about a Firefly convention like that that completely fell apart a day or so beforehand because the organizers were dummies. If I had tickets to this thing or I was an actor going to this, I would be a little worried.

[Souris]

I don't think the organizers could or would say if it was because it was a stipulation of one of the actress's contracts -- they wouldn't want to throw anybody under the bus and burn bridges for future cons. Could they have blamed scheduling instead? Sure, but maybe they didn't want to out-and-out lie. I'm pretty sure it was indeed for that contract reason -- and my guess is it was Lana's, because: 1) She doesn't seem like she wants to share the spotlight with JMo, and 2) If it was JMo who was determined not to have a SQ photo op, she wouldn't then turn around and change her other photo ops because of the badgering.

 

Of course, I doubt we'll ever know the real reason. But I certainly don't think it was the organizer's fault. And nobody was promised any particular pairing when they initially bought tickets, so if they assumed they'd get something and didn't, that's on them for assuming. Now, people who bought tix after the JMo/Colin duo was announced but before JMo canceled it, they have a legit beef.

 

As for the initial JMo/Victoria duo -- well, Emma did kill Cruella.

Edited May 25, 2015 by Souris

[OnceUponAJen]

Cancellation of JMo's duo photos puts a dent in the money stream too. I'm sure people were going to pay a pretty penny for Jen/anyone photos...especially with Colin, of course. So the con and she lose out on a cut. I don't blame her though. The drama is not worth it.

[sharky]

According to the FB page, it was going to be 160 euros for the Jen/Colin photo. That's $175 US! So yea, something must really be wrong if Jen felt the need to pull out of that. And frankly, I really feel bad for Colin in this situation. This seems to be the first hiatus he's actually gone to these conventions and, unlike Jen, it's a good source of extra income after all those years of struggling as an actor. And why? Because some fans through a hissy fit?

[retrograde]

Helpful info via an old Reddit discussion on cons (interesting thread in general if you're curious about the economics of this stuff):

 

Sci-fi convention organizer/promoter here. Basically each celebrity agrees to come for either an appearance fee or guarantee. With the appearance fee you pay them x amount of dollars up front to come to the con. With the guarantee you agree on a dollar amount that their autograph/photo op sales must meet. If they don't make that dollar amount by the end of the weekend, the promoter pays the difference.

 

Regardless, I'm sure Jennifer Morrison, who is friends with Colin and knows the financial arrangements with the convention, is better placed to determine whether her actions will affect him financially. 

Edited May 25, 2015 by retrograde

[Serena]

I'm sure Colin will get a lot of money regardless, CS photo op or not. As to the reasons why there was no SQ - I wouldn't be suprised AT ALL if it was because the actresses don't get along. Now, I'm not saying they have a Marguiless/Panjabi feud going on (and if they do, clearly they've been able to overcome it to work together, so good for them). But if Jen's schedule gave her the time for TWO photoshoots, and the people available to have it with were Colin, Lana, and Victoria, I'm not surprised she chose Colin and Victoria. Jen is clearly very good friends with Colin and his family, and there are photos from when they were filming Cruella's episode of Jen and Victoria hugging, so they are friendly too. In the 4 years Jen and Lana have been filming together, and they film together a fair amoung, we've never seen them hug or even stand especially close when not filming, when that happens all the time with Colin, Rose, Ginny... If Jen and Lana are just collegues and not friends, plus they are collegues who don't really see eye to eye in the storylines (Jen can't help but have noticed that, after Lana's cheerleading for redeemed Regina, the writers are giving her everything Emma has: light magic, Savior status, curse breaking with TLK with Henry, the OQ bandage scene was clearly an "homage" to the CS one... come on), why would she chose to spend hours standing around with her? Especially taking pictures with people who... well, you've seen how they have been acting on Twitter... those people and Lana?

 

She probably chose the people she would rather hang out with.

Edited May 25, 2015 by Serena

[RadioGirl27]

If it was really Jen the one who didn't want to take the pic with Lana, I wouldn't blame her. Lana has thrown Jen under the bus multiple times with her queerbaiting. And not only Jen, other castmembers as well.

Anyway, I'm sure we are going to have some SQ pics before the season starts.

[maryle]

I'm really curious about the fall out of all this!

There going to panel at this con too. How will it be pairing and I wondering if they should be screening the question because I so can see the drama keep going at this Paris con. How tiresome for all actress and actor involves.

And Comic con will it be suffer from all this drama. I hope not!