Netizen Rages Over Anime Enthusiasts Who Wore Clothes Bearing Hentai At A KL Shopping Mall
The photos were captured on 21 December outside of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC).
By Yap Wan Xiang — 24 Dec 2019, 10:32 AM
Comic Fiesta happened over the weekend at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), gathering thousands of anime enthusiasts
The annual event featured several Japanese anime voice actresses, comic artists, famous cosplayers and many more special guests, prompting visitors to come dressed as their favourite comic book characters.
However, some anime lovers took a different approach and donned hoodies and pants covered with 'ahegao' faces
'Ahegao' is a term in Japanese that explains exaggerated facial expressions of characters during sex, typically with rolling eyes or protruding tongue.
Photos of a group of men in ahegao design clothes walking in a shopping centre - adjacent to the anime convention venue - were shared by Facebook user Louis Dorall on Sunday, 22 December.
At the time of writing, the post has garnered over 3,300 shares and over 2,600 reactions.
In the viral post, Dorall chastised the group for wearing the indecent clothes in public at the risk of tarnishing the name of the event
In one of the photos, a child was spotted walking beside the ahegao-wearing men.
"What you think is a funny joke between you and your friends, has consequences for all of us, including conventions and its organisers," Dorall criticised.
He said Malaysia is very sensitive towards issues like this, whereby anything deemed offensive or seen to "disrupt the peace of the country" may result in a ban by local authorities.
Dorall urged the group and other anime enthusiasts to be mindful and keep their activities inside the convention
"There is a time and place for all of this," Dorall wrote.
"Keep it in the con. (If) you keep doing this, it will be banned."
Despite Dorall's best intention, some netizens thought the stunt pulled by the ahegao-wearing men was hilarious and asked Dorall to calm down
"Just shut up and enjoy it," a netizen commented.
"Owner is jealous that he can’t afford an ahegao hoodie," another Facebook user wrote.
"There is no nudity. Get over it. Most normal people (wouldn't) even know what it means."
Some netizens also asked Dorall to look away if he disliked it so much.
However, some netizens sided with Dorall instead.
"Why are people defending this act? Are you guys okay?" asked a netizen.
Another netizen wrote, "Just because you have 'freedom of expression' doesn't mean you're free from the consequences of your actions."
After the incident has gone viral, Dorall clarified with SAYS that he does not oppose ahegao clothes or any sexy cosplays for that matter, but reiterated that it should stay inside the convention
"Honestly, I'm okay with this ahegao, sexy cosplay, or whatever (netizens) think I'm against," Dorall told SAYS.
"I'm all for it INSIDE the convention halls. If you do it outside and there is a public backlash, we are all affected as a community."
He continued that he is not an 'extremist' as some netizens claimed, but merely advised that prevention is better than cure when the issue concerns the whole community.
