Hot Topic Tries To Explain Things To Twilight Fans
In response to the havoc wrecked by hordes of tweenie girls in San Francisco earlier this week and after Wednesday's promotion in Chicago left hundreds of fans disappointed, Hot Topic's CEO just issued the following statement to PerezHilton.com:
To all of the supporters of Hot Topic and fans of TWILIGHT:
Although no explanation will correct the situation that occurred in Chicago today at the Orland Square Mall, I wanted to attempt to explain what happened from our point of view.
We do many signings all over the country with large crowds so we have processes and systems in place to ensure a smooth experience for our customers. The mall developer was a partner in the planning; however, as of two days ago, they told us they would not allow any fans to line up prior to 6AM. They required them to be off the premises.
On Monday at 6AM at the San Francisco event, the fans became disorderly and stormed the mall entrance. Mall security, numerous police, fire officials and our team from HT stepped in to calm the crowd and create a safe environment for the fans. The event was revised and went forward with the exception of the planned Q&A.
Monday’s event caused all of us to re-group and review the process. Allowing a “mob” to develop was dangerous and frankly, not an option. The mall developer (GGP) consented to allowing an orderly line to form prior to 6AM outside of the remainder of the malls on the tour. When our crew arrived yesterday at midnight, approximately 500 people were already lined up to purchase tickets. By 1AM, there were 700 people in line. It was about 30 degrees and raining. We had to make a call. We knew the first 500 would get wristbands and felt it was the right call to allow those waiting beyond 500 to go home and avoid the cold, wet weather for the remainder of the morning. Given the demand, anyone arriving after midnight would have been too late to obtain a wristband.
We understand your frustration and anger, but from our standpoint, we had no choice but to change the rules after Monday’s event. We knew some would feel it unfair as they were told one thing and when arriving on the scene, something else was reality. But given the choice of risking a disorderly crowd, a dangerous situation and canceling of the event, we made a decision that we felt was the right thing to do. I support our team and the mall for making safety and, given the weather, health the priorities.
There are two remaining locations for “Edward” appearances, King of Prussia in Philadelphia and Square One in Saugus MA. Both malls have consented to allowing an orderly line form early, first come, first serve. Exact line-up locations are posted on the hottopic.com website.
We sincerely apologize and hope that the facts help you to better understand the situation.
Betsy McLaughlin
CEO, Hot Topic
Twilight is turning into a crazy teen phenomenon!
They're going to have to start doing these events at arenas!
[Image via WENN.]
The Gayken & His Mini-Me!
The girl in that pic is hot!
Re: BoneShaker – lol you tell them girl
Re: Amour7287 – I agree with you that Kirsten Stewart looks like a real bitch!!
i went to the event in chicago yesterday and it was so amazing to get to meet rob but i really wish i could just sit and have a conversation with him. i was really looking forward to the question and answer part but i couldn't hear a word he was saying because of all the annoying girls screaming for no reason. i'm glad that he took the time to do this but i just wish i could have met him on a more personal level instead of being herded like cattle. i watched an interview that they must have done before the signing in chicago and he even agrees that he feels bad that people wait so long in line and then it's like hi, here's your autograph, bye. haha and he also comments on the screaming. he doesn't say it's annoying but you get the hint that he'd rather them shut the f up. i love rob pattinson.
p.s. the girl behind me kept chanting PATTERSON and i wanted to kick her in the teeth.
Re: muffintop – i know exactly what you are talking about. that event was literally tow steps to turning into san fran!
DAMN HE IS FUGS!!!!!
LOL…teenagers are funny. I'm not judging though. I used to think that I would marry Kirk Cameron. And I read Anne Rice novels. I loved Dark Shadows too. Not to mention that I thought Corey Haim was cute. Ahhhh, teenagers…..
I see her explanation, but here's some advice for hot topic.
Buy something from hot topic, and get a ticket to meet the twilight actors. You know when they are coming, so a week before, advertise this gimmick. Issue the 500 tickets to your paying customers, and then on the day of the promotion, you have your inclusive 500. Rather than create chaos, make the most of it. Business 101
Thank you for filling my laugh quota for the day.
The only thing scarier than vampires are teenage girls obsessed with vampires.
Love the story…..cant wait to see the movie and I am 30 ish….I hope she makes 4 movies……..I guess at 30 Dr Cullen should be my favorite character Rob is toooo young so my interest in going anywhere to see him in person……. but it will be fun to watch how they followed the book cant wait……Guess what perez Stefanie Meyers is A MORMON and will be very rich from her books and movies…..GOOD FOR HER…….
Re: snowwhite – I totally second what you said about what really happened at the SF event. REVISED?! Sure, they will say that. But that isn't even close to what happened. I have a huge group of people reporting them to the Better Business Bureau for totally failing.
Also, I feel insanely bad for Rob. All the little girls that scream "Edward" instead of his real name… Is it impossible to truly respect the work of actors, these days? The reason I wanted to meet him was, not to tell him how "dreamy" he is, but to show him he actually has a sane fan-base, not just a crazy one full of little girls and post-menopausal moms.
o my
what lovely looking junkies.
geesh!
Re: _Alice_ –
Hi Alice,
I heard of Dark Shadows
heard it was a scary soap
with vampires?
Re: yourazzzuckzbuttermilk – It was a soap back in the 60's and they remade it in the early 90's. It wasn't scary though. It was more dramatic/romantic.
This site is no longer exciting.
I agree, arenas are the better option for this before it starts getting out of hand!
LOL! NICE!
lining up at midnight in the freezing cold just to see some tweenie actor the following DAY? I'm sorry but thats kind of pathetic.
Goodmorning ya… Aight perez baby, give me some newsworthy news today.. You've been slacking, and i aint gon keep taking it. lol j/k.
TOO LONG TO READ, WAKE UP FUCKER AND CHANGE THE POST!
Re: LettyB – Hey bitch. Goodmorning to you u fucker…
Re: yourazzzuckzbuttermilk – [re=3100359]Re: _Alice_ – MORNING Y'ALL!
it is 14.40 o'clock here, and no
news on perezhilton-
that is boring!!!
Re: La Diva – MORNING MY BITCHY FOE!!!!!!
Re: LettyB – Hey honey!
WHOOAH!
CHANGE THE POST YOU LAZY FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow-what a bunch of losers. I'm laughing at the people who are saying :IM NEVER SHOPPING AT HOT TOPIC AGAIN!" You don't know what a favor you are doing yourselves.
Re: _Alice_ – i figured you for a flowers in the attic kinda girl
.
.
.
Hi Letty…AZZ
Re: LettyB – Aww and here I thought we were getting along. Oh well fuckface.. lol
They look like they just got done screwing and/or partying all night. Yuck, I be they stink! Didn't they hear that the heroin chic look went out almost 2 decades ago?
Come on perez, I keep refreshing your site waiting for the news like an addict. wtf….. Stop sucking cock and get on with it….
Re: La Diva – I KNEW YOU SECRETLY LIKED ME! WE ARE A LOT A LIKE!!!! LOL!
Re: mamajud – MORNING! AND STOP PUTTING THE MOVES ON ALICE!!! LOL!
Re: mamajud – Hahaha….I hate to admit it but I was even in love Corey Feldman too. The Lost Boys was my fave back then. And don't get me started on Jason Patric….oohh la la…..
Re: La Diva – LOL….Do you think Perez is the husband or the wife in a relationship?
Re: LettyB – Lol yes my beloved twisted sister from another mother in another country…
Re: _Alice_ – Ohh I wish i bit off a piece of Jason Patric. Yummy…
KIDS ARE STUPID!
You should probably boycott this series though because a MORMON wrote the books!!!!!!! Don't pick and choose Perez, stand by what you believe and say.
The 1000's of SCREAMING teenagers are the #1 reason I'm NOT going to see the movie in the theatres during the first MONTH. I attempted to watch the "leaked" 8 minutes of Twilight a few weeks ago but all you heard were these screaming little girls. If I wanted to hear that then I'd go to a Hannah Montana concert not to a movie theatre. These people take "obsessed fandom" to a whole new level. They make that Paula Abdul fan that just died look normal.
GET OVER IT, EDWARD CULLEN IS A FICTIONAL CHARACTER, HE IS NOT REAL. SO GET THE F*CK OVER IT.
p.s. I am a Twilight fan, but nothing like these freaks.
Re: _Alice_ – did you see jason patric on entourage?…..time has not been very good to him…………………for me it was the blue lagoon guy
the movie hasn't even come out yet,
if it sucks, people are going to be really dissappointed that they spent so much time in line for that.
personally i went because he played cedric diggory in harry potter and the goblet of fire.
thats sad.. =( poor fans….
hope they're going to make another event with better security..
LOVE TWILIGHT!!
& ROB!!!
I love Twilight!!!
Kristen Stuart is awful. She's a horrible actress and she totally looks like she's all drugged up in her interviews. She looks like a crack whore in this photo.
Re: muffintop –
You dropped your kid and four friends off at 4 IN THE MORNING to see some lame ass actor?
WHAT KIND OF MOTHER ARE YOU?
I was one of the fans (not a screaming teen) who followed the rules and went at 5am like they stated and did not get a wristband. It was said by hot topic when I called the night before that anyone on premises before 5am would be escorted off by police. Why weren't the people that were there the night before escorted off. No, instead they were given the wristbands. I feel, sure when I got there at 5am and the 500 were there already I would've said damn too bad let's go home but no they gave them to the ones that broke the rules. They should not have done a mall tour it was the dumbest thing to do. Twilight is way too popular to do the tour ata a mall they are not equipped to handle crowds in the 1000's.
OMG! I just heard on the radio that Kristen Stewart is going to be in a movie where she plays a STRIPPER! Not only is she a total bitch in real life but she is also a slut who makes bad career choices.
I can't wait until the twilight phenomenon fades out. It is obnoxious to the extreme and I will not see the movie or read the book.
I was at the SF event and in this statement Hot Topic said the fans went crazy and rushed the door that is absolutely not true. The reality of the situation is that there was one security guard there for about 300 people he is the one who told the crowd that was waiting there "ok guys, just run" I was there I heard it with my own ears. I am a 25 year old fan who just wanted an autograph and while the police had to be called in because Hot Topic and the mall did a horrible job at organizing the event some people just left (me) because the situation got ridiculous. I don't like that everyone is blaming the fans I think Hot Topic and the mall especially need to take a little responsibility for what happened. The one security guard that was on duty was so not prepared and he couldn't even figure out how to work the megaphone. When he told everyone to run across the parking lot. A bunch of people told him that wasn't the best idea and that someone was going to get hurt, someone did they got trampled and bust their nose. It was basically all just ridiculous.
Wow ! he kinda looks really bad there but i love the books and im excited for the movie!!
Re: crimson.shamrock – Yes I'm 28 and like to read BIG FUCKING DEAL! I'm ENGAGED. And I have a life. I also have hobbies, one which is reading. Not everybody has the same taste but I know a shit load of people that are older than me that love twilight. Oh and here rip on this I read Harry Potter too. No go back to your sad life where you gotta cut people down. I LOVED THE BOOKS!
i want to meet R-Patz!!
Rob is such man candy!! I love the comments below…so fascinating what people come up with. I love the comment about Rob being made of chocolate and every woman in the world is on the rag…hilarious. I think they are both talented actors and will survive all this with there souls intact
Re: LettyB –
Wanna actually stick to the topic and not have personal conversations?
Thank you
"These people didn't seem to understand that Robert is an actor. Edward Cullen does not exist. Good god… "
I just wanted to quote this. I feel so bad for Rob. I'd bet big money he had no idea what he was getting himself into when he signed onto Twilight. Not at all. I'd guess he did not and does NOT want this teen sex symbol image placed on him. Leave that for the Jonas Brothers and Zac Efron. I feel for the guy. Here's hoping he breaks out of the Edward Cullen mold sooner rather than later.
THIS IS A BUNCH OF BULLCRAP I LOVE TWILIGHT AND EDWARD IS JUST GORGEUS
Thats crazy, i never thought twilight would be this popular, i mean i knew it would be this popular but not enough for people to get hurt at a signing. I like twilight but honestly I'm gonna be relieved when this is all over. o and why do adults like it?