Dominique “SonicFox” McLean pulled out of Nexcon 2026 after seeing promotional material for the event that used AI to generate the fighting game professional’s image. The brochure appeared entirely AI-generated, including sloppy renderings of other creators who would be present. Once SonicFox found out about the promotion, they immediately canceled their appearance. “Update: Contract canceled and I’m no longer attending! :3” they posted on https://t.co/cEaTUgUlrx — SonicFox (@SonicFox) October 20, 2026 Nexcon 2026 is a gaming, anime, and creator-focused convention hosted by Ninjutsu Entertainment and held in Norman, Oklahoma. In response to SonicFox’s cancellation, Ty Bailey, one of the founders of Ninjutsu Entertainment, took to X and posted a video admitting to using AI but begging SonicFox to reconsider. @SonicFox bro we didn’t mean any disrespect, hope this clears up love you buddy pic.twitter.com/nggEwYZJTO — Ninjutsu Entertainment (@NinjutsuEtm) October 21, 2026 In the video, Bailey said he takes full responsibility for using genAI to create the brochure and said that he and his business partner don’t even like the technology, but they had no choice but to use it because his job at Nexcon left them without money. to spend on real artists. While Bailey offered an apology, it came with numerous excuses, including that only he and his business partner work at the convention on top of their 40+ hour-a-week jobs, that they have no experience running a convention, and that the artists didn’t want to work with them after they had already started using genAI in the first place. Bailey ends the video with an emotional plea. “We’re not going to stop the scam, but we definitely need you, SonicFox,” he said. “And I really hope you can still come here.” SonicFox responded with the verbal equivalent of Heihachi Mishima throwing his son off a cliff. “I am a forgiving person and I can hear the remorse in your voice, so I forgive you,” they wrote. “However, there are still consequences for such actions that will lead to me not attending. Use the money you offered me in the contract to book artists, and maybe next year I will reconsider. I’m sorry.”
