Threat forces Furry Con attendees to flee Ypsilanti hotel but make 'best of the situation'

Frank Witsil
Detroit Free Press

Motor City Furry Con participants, many still in their animal costumes, were forced to evacuate the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest sometime before 1 p.m. Friday, after an anonymous threat — possibly of a bomb — was made.

Marriott confirmed with the Free Press that the Ypsilanti hotel received "an anonymous threat which led to the hotel being cleared while the authorities work to sweep the area" and "once we are clear to go back in our events will resume."

One evacuation witness, Cassidy Civet, took to Twitter to describe how the hotel evacuation unfolded: "Just got to #mcfc2023, and literally during the middle of opening ceremonies they received an emailed threat and we have to evacuate the hotel. Ugh."

Civet, who's Twitter handle is @CassidyTheCivet, described herself on the app as a "furry musician," "pop star," and the "Furry in Eurovision," and posted a video clip of the evacuation that included a Sheriff's Office cruiser driving by as someone said: "Here come the po-po."

Furry Con bills itself online as an event "for the furry fandom with the intention of offering programming catered to members of the furry fandom, as well as offering a venue for dealers, costumers, and general socializing of said fandom."

So what is this "said fandom" all about?

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Think: "The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)" viral video by a Norwegian group Ylvis.

Online news site Vox once described it under the headline "9 questions about furries you were too embarrassed to ask" as people with an interest in anthropomorphized creatures, such as Pokémon or Sonic the Hedgehog. Vox also noted they have been portrayed .as "sexual fetishists" with an interest in "sex in animal costumes."

"But," Vox added, "survey evidence suggests a lot of these stereotypes are wrong (very few furries think sex in animal costumes is a good idea, for instance)."

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The Free Press left messages with Ypsilanti Police and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office.

"Other than that, it hasn't affected the convention," a Marriott representative said in an email, adding that it is proud of its staff and expects the weekend to be enjoyable. "We've been temporarily displaced but people are gathered together with friends and making the best of the situation."

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.