Yuga Labs, the creator of the popular Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has recently come under legal scrutiny due to injuries sustained at ApeFest. The founder and CEO of art technology company Artfi, Asif Kamal, took to Twitter to claim responsibility for the company.
“I nearly lost my eyesight, enduring immense pain and anxiety,” Kamal stated.
In a petition for more safety in public events, Kamal shared his harrowing experience at the Hong Kong event, which involved eye infections caused by UV lights. He revealed that he is currently under constant medical supervision and is now experiencing skin peeling.
“I’m under constant medical supervision, and now my skin is starting to peel,” the CEO wrote.
ApeFest took place in Hong Kong from November 3 to 5, and attendees quickly reported eye pain, damaged vision, and burns. Concerns grew among participants about the potential loss of eyesight, prompting many to seek urgent medical attention. Doctors identified the UV lights as the cause of the injuries.
In response to the incident, Kamal expressed his unwavering support for the Bored Ape Yacht Club community while demanding accountability from those responsible.
“I’ve got the Ape, will always hold it, love our community, and will keep backing them,” Kamal emphasized.
“But I’ll make sure those responsible for the incident own up, no hiding!”
Artfi, known for fractionalizing physical works of blue-chip art for token holders worldwide, is valued at $100 million according to its CEO. The company also operates an NFT marketplace.
Despite the eye-related issues being reported, the Bored Ape Yacht Club Twitter account only acknowledged the problem on November 6. The team assured attendees that they were proactively investigating the root causes behind the injuries.
“Based on our estimates, we believe that much less than 1% of those attending and working the event had these symptoms,” the team stated at the time.
On November 9, the company released a more detailed statement, confirming that the UV-A emitting lights installed in one corner of the event were likely to blame for the reported eye and skin issues. Yuga Labs expressed its commitment to supporting the recovery of all affected individuals, although the specific plans for assistance remain undisclosed.
As medical bills continue to mount for some of the victims, Cryptonews reached out to Yuga Labs for comment on the incident.
