Yuga Labs, the creator of the famous Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) non-fungible tokens (NFTs), is facing legal action following injuries sustained at ApeFest. The incident has drawn attention from Asif Kamal, the founder and CEO of art technology company Artfi, who took to Twitter to claim responsibility. Asif Kamal said, “I nearly lost my eyesight, enduring immense pain and anxiety.” He shared a petition calling for increased safety at public events. The injuries were allegedly caused by UV lights at the Hong Kong event. “I’m under constant medical supervision, and now my skin is starting to peel,” Kamal stated.
ApeFest, which took place from November 3-5 in Hong Kong, saw attendees experience eye pain, damaged vision, and burns. Concerned individuals urged others with similar issues to seek immediate medical attention to avoid further damage. Doctors confirmed that the injuries were a result of exposure to UV lights. While Kamal expressed loyalty to the Bored Ape Yacht Club community, he vowed to hold those responsible for the incident accountable.
Artfi is a platform that allows investors to own fractional shares of physical blue-chip artworks. Additionally, it operates an NFT marketplace and is valued at $100 million according to its CEO. The Bored Ape Yacht Club Twitter account addressed the issue on November 6, claiming to be aware of the “eye-related issues” and actively reaching out to affected attendees. The team estimated that less than 1% of participants experienced symptoms.
On November 9, the company posted a more detailed response, acknowledging that UV-A emitting lights at the event likely caused the reported eye and skin issues. Yuga Labs expressed its commitment to supporting the recovery of the affected individuals, although specifics regarding the assistance offered remain unclear. Some victims have mentioned mounting medical bills as a concern. Cryptonews has reached out to Yuga Labs for further comment.
