Cosplayer Alleges Policeman Blamed Her Costume As Cause For Harassment At Anime Fest 2022

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The cosplayer, who goes by the name of Pudds, shared on Monday night, 16 May, that she was tending to her booth at Anime Fest 2022 in Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya and taking pictures with fans before a man suddenly cut the queue and approached her.

In a tweet, Pudds revealed that the man was given a warning by a friend of hers, who was with her at the booth.

But he proceeded to push his way through anyway. When he was stopped by the friend, he then started yelling, crying, and begging to take a picture with Pudds.

It turns out that this man has been allegedly stalking Pudds online and has allegedly refused to leave her alone after multiple warnings from her.

"He even trailed me to my car at the parking lot yesterday," she wrote.

Pudds added that, prior to this, the man had even threatened to die by suicide if she did not unblock him on Discord and other social media platforms.

Pudds said an officer told her that, "Wearing outfits like these, selling pictures like these, there are consequences. You are also in the wrong."

She said she covered herself up with a jacket while at the police station out of respect.

When the officer asked her age and she told him she was 21, he allegedly told Pudds to "go back to school".

"Why are you doing these things? Are you a model in an agency? If not, then don't do it," she quoted the policeman as saying.

According to Malaysiakini, Petaling Jaya district police chief ACP Mohamad Fakhruddin Abdul Hamid said in a statement yesterday, 17 May, that the police personnel involved would be investigated for disciplinary infraction.

In the latest Instagram post, Pudds said she is exhausted from the stalking, harassment and victim blaming incidents but she assured her followers that she is alright.

"I want to sincerely thank all of you for supporting and looking after me," she wrote in a caption, adding that her inboxes were flooded with words of love and support.

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