Yuga Labs, the creators of the popular Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT collection, have confirmed that UV-A emitting lights installed at the ApeFest event in Hong Kong were the cause of eye and skin problems experienced by some attendees.
ApeFest was a three-day event held from November 3 to November 5, 2023, to celebrate the BAYC community and showcase the NFT project. However, after the event, many attendees reported suffering from eye pain, temporary blindness, and skin irritation. Some of them had to visit the hospital for treatment.
Yuga Labs Is Actively Investigating the Situation
In a statement posted on Twitter, Yuga Labs said that they had launched an investigation into the ApeFest installations and reviewed the materials used, in partnership with the event organizers, Jack Morton Worldwide. They concluded that the UV-A lights, which were supposed to create a fluorescent effect, were likely the culprit.
On Sunday, November 5, Yuga Labs began to receive reports that some ApeFest attendees and staff experienced eye pain, vision issues, or skin irritation following the Saturday night community event. These reports were – and continue to be – deeply concerning to us. We immediately…
— Bored Ape Yacht Club (@BoredApeYC) November 9, 2023
“We are deeply sorry for any discomfort or inconvenience this may have caused to anyone who attended ApeFest. We take full responsibility for this incident and will do everything in our power to make it right,” the statement read.
Yuga Labs said that they had contacted all the affected attendees and offered to cover their medical expenses and provide compensation. They also said that they would implement stricter safety measures for future events and ensure that no UV lights of any kind would be used. Finally, they have warned users to only use their official news website to stay updated on the matter.
The incident has sparked outrage and criticism from some BAYC holders and NFT enthusiasts, who accused Yuga Labs of negligence and irresponsibility. Some of them have even threatened to take legal action against the company.
However, others have expressed their support and appreciation for Yuga Labs, saying that they still trust and respect the team and that they enjoyed the event despite the mishap. They also praised Yuga Labs for their transparency and accountability.
