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Nickelodeon fans who had been looking forward to 'A Nite of Nickelodeon Nostalgic Nonsense' at NYCC probably should have seen this coming. Author
Mathew Klickstein has announced the event has been canceled. The news comes after he gave a
racistquestionable interview about Nickelodeon being diverse to promote his book "Slimed! An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age".
![Slimed Canceled]( "Slimed Canceled")
Official statement from ReedPOP:
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, ReedPOP has cancelled Thursday’s New York Super Week SLIMED! Presents a Nite of Nickelodeon Nostalgic Nonsense! event and panel at Hammerstein Ballroom. All ticket sales will be refunded to fans. We are truly sorry for the inconvenience."
Trevor Eyster (Sponge from Salute Your Shorts): I feel the need to make a public statement about the sudden, jarring cancellation of the Nickelodeon Nostalgia Nite event, that was to take place at New York Comic-Con, organized and to be hosted by Slimed! Author Matthew Klickstein. While we are all understandably upset, for a myriad of completely valid reasons (paid travel, unmet promises, inconvenience) -- I'm upset about something very different.
A BLIND SPOT: something really significant that's being missed by the large majority of those commenting on the various threads today, after the announcement to of the cancellation.
Corporate Censorship
Here is what I know: Matt Klickstein did an interview that went live a couple days ago. When finally assembled and published to the web, it took a tone, that in retrospect I would imagine he regrets. That final tone, is largely curated by the interviewer. While Matt can certainly control what he says — anyone who's ever been really pissed off by a text message, knows there is a huge loss of translation that can occur when words become nothing but 2-dimensional text.
The decision to cancel the event was made by Comic-Con. And while they haven't released a statement, it would sure seem like this is a case of a corporate entity not wanting to be attached to the opinions of another that would seem controversial, or unclarified.
But instead of being upset at the big boys at Comic-Con for their selfish interests in making it more important to unnecessarily protect their name and image -- we're demonizing (and viciously attacking) a good man.
Now, while I wish Matt's announcement of the cancellation would have included an apology for the huge inconvenience and at least a skeleton explanation - I've read and continue to read the comment threads, and I am SICK of seeing my friend absolutely attacked and vilified by Nick fans.
Matt, is frankly, one of the victims here. He is a victim of corporate interest and censorship.
Also, I'd like to point out that Matt's a little new to the big-publicity block. I think he got a little naive and a little arrogant. It happens to the best of us when we suddenly come into any modicum of notoriety. The fact that people care so much about what he said, is a testament in itself to his relevance. It is not, however, intended to be anyone's view - but his own. When did he ever represent to anyone that his own thoughts were intended to be anything more than that?
And what's the point of interviewing somebody if we don't really want to hear what they have to say? Don't we want the real scoop?
While I may not always share his views - I applaud Matt for being brave enough to push envelopes and start conversations - by being authentic and speaking his truths. (Have his views actually even been fairly represented in the article? It's a rhetorical question, I just don't know the answer. I'm hoping Matt will soon clarify his views.)
I am standing by my friend, because that's what friends do. I am asking all of you to deepen your understanding of the TRUE narrative here. And the true narrative is: Nickelodeon once represented the spirit of the anti-corporate. Now, while Nickelodeon didn't curate, sponsor or endorse this event --- all of the interested parties, are fans of its 90's "products". In order to hold an event of this size, logistically, there was a need for a Comicon. Comicon yanked its support at the last minute, and that's who you need to be upset with.
You can be upset with Matt for a badly worded interview all you want - but it's not only unproductive, it's misdirected.
You oughta be PISSED OFF at the corporate heads of Comic-Con for pulling the plug from an old-paradigm fear-based profit-motive mentality.
I implore you to give a little more respect to a guy that's gotta be beside himself right now - who was perhaps a bit naive and blindsided by how quickly a corporate entity can shut down a party.
If I see one more person tell my friend Matt to F-OFF... or suggest that he's an aspiring rapist... I just, it makes me so sad.
Friends, your words matter. Rise up, be smart, support free speech, not corporate reactivism.
Matt, I love you my brother from another mother. Call me. Let's go take a hike in the forest again, where no tree will censor us, where no one will jump to remarkably unbalanced conclusions without all the information, or usurp big-brother control. We're overdue.
Michael Ray Bower (Donkey Lips from Salute Your Shorts): "i apoligize new york fans as i will not be heading to NY since event was cancelled -- i hope to meet all you awesome fans soon again somewhere --love michael ray bower. maybe a 25 years later salute your shorts reunion next year at comic con ill talk to the big wigs and see if we can make that a reality -- but i wont do any diversity issues or give my political views nowhere before -- sad this whole PR Nightmare so many people hurt."
A new event, "You CAN Do That On Television" has been scrounged up at the last minute. Fans in the area can still see Polaris perform tomorrow in Brooklyn and hang with Phil Moore, The Beets and Klickstein at the Treehouse Theater.
![You Can Do That On Television]( "You Can Do That On Television")
SourceFollow up to this post.
No apology to the fans or remorse at all.
