VTubers were left reeling after fans’ carefully brought gifts vanished into venue trash at TwitchCon in San Diego, an annual celebration where streamers and viewers meet in person. What was meant to be a heartfelt thank-you turned into a public apology and fresh controversy for virtual creators.
Ironmouse ‘heartbroken’ after TwitchCon staff allegedly threw out gifts from VTuber fans
At TwitchCon San Diego from October 17-19, venue staff mistakenly threw away unlabeled boxes of fan gifts intended for VTuber meet-and-greets at Ironmouse’s booth.Ironmouse, whose meet-and-greet was promoted as being ‘powered by Ironmouse’, issued an emotional apology on X (formerly Twitter) after fans discovered many presents had been thrown away.“I deeply apologize to all the vtubers and the fans who had meet and greets at the vtuber booth this year. It breaks my heart to know staff threw out all the gifts. I should have known better than to trust them and taken care of everything ahead of time. I am so sorry everyone,” she wrote, expressing regret and disbelief.VTubers, who often have limited in-real-life appearances, had organised meet-and-greets where fans brought gifts to show appreciation. For many, these tokens were a rare way to bridge the virtual gap between creator and community, making their loss even more painful.
Fans left disappointed despite following guidelines
Several attendees said they had followed all posted gift rules, even bringing items in clear plastic bags to comply with TwitchCon’s safety guidelines. Those small, seemingly harmless offerings, including sets of stickers, were reportedly treated as potential threats by venue security.According to multiple accounts, fans were told that gifts were considered a “security risk” and “could have held an explosive.” Many were left baffled that such tiny tokens of affection could be labelled dangerous and discarded.
Broader tensions at TwitchCon and other incidents
TwitchCon’s promise of increased security and the presence of armed law enforcement could not prevent a string of troubling incidents during this year’s event. One alarming moment involved streamer Emiru, who was assaulted by a man during her meet-and-greet. Twitch stated that the attacker was immediately detained, though the streamer publicly disputed that claim.These incidents contributed to a growing sense among creators that the event had been marred by mismanagement and confusion.
VTubers call the future of TwitchCon into question
Other VTubers voiced their disappointment following the news. Henya described the gift incident as the result of a “miscommunication” between venue staff and creators, apologising to any fans who lost their presents. Elara went further, declaring, “I genuinely mean this, I think Twitchcon is actually cooked for future years,” echoing the frustration of many.What began as simple fan gestures, with tiny stickers and modest presents, ended up symbolising a deeper mistrust between organisers and the very community they celebrate.
