Two media organizations are threatening to withdraw from the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, next year after organizers canceled two controversial panels dealing with online harassment.
SXSW organizers this week said they would cancel the panels in response to threats of violence. In response, BuzzFeed and Vox Media said they would not participate in SXSW if the event does not find a way to address the online harassment issue.
One canceled panel centered on “Overcoming Harassment in Games” and the other was titled “SavePoint: A Discussion on the Gaming Community.”
Organizers apparently feared the panels would become a flashpoint for the ongoing controversy in the video game community pitting those who say the games need to be more diverse and progressive against those who say games are being tainted by political correctness. This latter group has dubbed itself “gamergate.”
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In canceling the panels, SXSW reiterated its commitment to diverse ideas and opinions. But in the statement, SXSW interactive director Hugh Forrest did not give details of the threats. SXSW organizers did not respond to requests for comment.
“We were disturbed to learn yesterday that you canceled two panels, including one on harassment in gaming, in response to the sort of harassment the panel sought to highlight,” BuzzFeed said in a statement Tuesday. It was signed by Ze Frank, the head of BuzzFeed Motion Pictures; Dao Nguyen, BuzzFeed’s publisher; and Ben Smith, the site’s editor in chief.
In past years, BuzzFeed staffers have regularly appeared as panelists at SXSW. This year, several are slated to moderate or speak on a half-dozen panels. BuzzFeed stated that it would “feel compelled to withdraw” its staff members from other panels if SXSW doesn’t create a plan to “carry on important conversations in the face of harassment.”
“Digital harassment — of activists of all political stripes, journalists, and women in those fields or participating in virtually any other form of digital speech — has emerged as an urgent challenge for the tech companies for whom your conference is an important forum,” Buzzfeed said. “Those targets of harassment, who include our journalists, do important work in spite of these threats.”
Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff said his organization -- which includes Vox.com, Polygon, The Verge, Re/code, Racked, Curbed, and SB Nation -- would not be participating in SXSW unless the organizers “take appropriate steps to correct” the problem.
“By approving the panels in question, SXSW assumed responsibility for related controversies and security threats,” Bankoff said in a statement published on Re/code, a website owned by Vox Media. “By canceling the panels, they have cut off an opportunity to discuss a real and urgent problem in media and technology today.”
Writer and activist Arthur Chu dissected how the panels came to be -- and came to be canceled -- in a long-form article published in the Daily Beast on Tuesday.
Much of it stemmed from issues with participants in gamergate, a group that’s been criticized for online harassment. After learning about a panel called “Level Up: Overcoming Harassment in Games,” a subreddit dedicated to gamergate trashed the panelists online.
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Raury performs at the Pandora Discovery Den SXSW. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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Guitarist Ben Weinman and vocalist Greg Puciato of the Dillinger Escape Plan performs at Converse & Thrasher Magazine’s Death Match. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Tove Lo performs at Perez Hilton’s One Night in Austin Party. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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Closer on Tove Lo as she performs at Perez Hilton’s One Night in Austin Party. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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J Cole performs at the ACL Moody Theater. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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Charlene Kaye of San Fermin onstage during the Pandora Discovery Den SXSW. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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Jokull Juliusson of Kaleo onstage. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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Alan Wilkis of Big Data onstage during the Pandora Discovery Den. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for PANDORA Media)
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Samuel Thomas Fryer and Alexander Jesson of the Palma Violets onstage. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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Zella Day onstage. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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Brian Harding and Amalie Bruun of Ex Cops backstage. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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Daniel Armbruster of Joywave onstage. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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YG performs at the Axe/Spin House. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Katie Toupin and Shane Cody of Houndmouth perform at Tumblr IRL Presents Houndmouth at SXSW, with Art By Gunnar Deatherage. (Robin Marchant / Getty Images for Tumblr)
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John Legend greets the crowd at the AXE White Label Collective Party. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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Musicians John Russell, left, John Rankin, John Legend, Alejandro Palma, Allison Mula and Jelani Jeffries attend the AXE White Label Collective Party at SXSW at Cheer Up Charlies. (Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images for AXE)
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Miley Cyrus, right, joins Mike Will Made It onstage during his performance at South by Southwest. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/Associated Press)
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Wiz Khalifa performs at South by Southwest. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan performs at South by Southwest. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Earl Sweatshirt performs at South by Southwest. (Rich Fury / Invision/Associated Press)
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Tove Lo performs at South by Southwest. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Island Records)
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Wyclef Jean performs at South by Southwest. (Alli Harvey / Getty Images for Spotify)
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Killer Mike, left, and El-P of Run the Jewels perform at South by Southwest. (Rich Fury / Invision/Associated Press)
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Tobias Jesso Jr. performs at South by Southwest. (Robin Marchant / Getty Images for Tumblr)
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The Weeknd performs. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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The Weeknd performs at South by Southwest. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/Associated Press)
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Snoop Dogg sits on the Iron Throne while attending an HBO event for “Game of Thrones” at South by Southwest. (Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images for HBO Game of Thr)
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Zoe Kravitz of Lolawolf performs as part of the Pandora Discovery Den at South by Southwest. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for PANDORA Media)
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Iggy Azalea performs at the Samsung Milk Music Lounge during the SXSW Music Festival. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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Paul Van Haver, a.k.a. Stromae, performs at South by Southwest. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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Kyp Malone, left, and Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio perform at the NPR showcase at SXSW. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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SZA sings as part of the Pandora Discovery Den at SXSW in Austin, Texas. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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Rapper Big Sean, left, chats with music journalist Elliott Wilson at South by Southwest. (Rahav Segev / Getty Images for Connected Ventu)
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Shamir performs at the NPR showcase. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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George Lewis Jr., a.k.a. Twin Shadow, performs at a Tumblr IRL event. (Robin Marchant / Getty Images for Tumblr)
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Griz performs during the Pandora Discovery Den at SXSW. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for PANDORA Media)
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Robert Delong at the Pandora Discovery Den at SXSW. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for PANDORA Media)
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Courtney Barnett performs at a Tumblr IRL presentation. (Robin Marchant / Getty Images for Tumblr)
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Mike Posner performs at Island Records’ Island Life Brunch at SXSW. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Island Records)
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Actress Freida Pinto takes part in the Neiman Marcus-sponsored “Make Some Noise” event during the SXSW Music Festival. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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The band Alberta Cross performs at a Marshall Headphones-sponsored event. (Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images for Marshall Headphones)
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The band Night Terrors of 1927 performs during the Marshall Headphones-sponsored speakeasy. (Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images for Marshall Headphones)
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Nikolai Fraiture of the Strokes and Tennessee Thomas attend the Marshall Headphones party. (Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images for Marshall Headphones)
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Elliphant performs at the Pandora Discovery Den. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for Pandora)
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Wooden Wisdom -- Zach Cowie, left, and “Lord of the Rings” actor Elijah Wood -- perform during the Marshall Headphones event. (Daniel Boczarski / Getty Images for Marshall Headphones)
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Halsey performs at the Pandora Discovery Den at SXSW. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for PANDORA Media)
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Singer/songwriter Mary J. Blige performs at SXSW on March 17. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Samsung)
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Astro Teller, Google X’s “Captain of Moonshots” gives a keynote on March 17 during the SXSW Interactive Festival. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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Bandmembers Monty Oxymoron, left, David Varnian, Andrew “Pinch” Pinching and Captain Sensible attend “The Damned: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead” screening on March 18. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Harrison Mills of Odesza performs during the Pandora Discovery Den SXSW on March 18. (Rachel Murray / Getty Images for PANDORA Media)
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Elliphant performs at a closing party during the 2015 SXSW Interactive Festival. (Natalie Cass / Getty Images for NYLON)
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DJ Henri performs at the SXSW 808 Extravaganza. (Roger Kisby / Getty Images for Soho House)
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Film subject Namibia accepts an award during the SXSW Film Awards on March 17. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Sam Hunt performs at the Spotify House at SXSW 2015 on March 18. (Alli Harvey / Getty Images for Spotify)
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“Krisha” director Trey Edward Shults won the grand jury prize in the narrative feature competition. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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SXSW Film Festival Director Janet Pierson takes part in the film awards at Paramount Theatre on March 17. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Filmmaker Trey Edward Shults accepts the grand jury prize in the narrative feature competition for his film “Krisha.” (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actress/comedian Vanessa Bayer hosts the SXSW Film Awards during the 2015 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival at Paramount Theatre. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Comedians Jay Pharoah, left, and Bob Saget attend a party at Soho House Austin after “An Above Average Talent Show” with the Ally Coalition. The variety show raised funds for OutYouth, an Austin charity that supports and provides services to LGBTQ youths. (Roger Kisby / Getty Images for Soho House)
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Comedians Eliot Glazer, left, John Early, Vanessa Bayer, Sherwyn Nicholls, Bob Saget, Kendrick Nicholls and Jay Pharoah attend the Ally Coalition after-party at Soho House Austin. (Roger Kisby / Getty Images for Soho House)
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Actor David Anders attends the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Entertainment Weekly party. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Samsung)
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Director Colin Hanks is interviewed at the “All Things Must Pass” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actor and director Robert Duvall arrives at the premiere of “Wild Horses” during SXSW 2015. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Musician Brad Paisley, left, host Jimmy Kimmel and TV personality Guillermo Rodriguez perform onstage at the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Entertainment Weekly party on March 15.
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Gorgon City performs at a SoulCycle class at the Spotify House during SXSW 2015 on March 16. (Alli Harvey / Getty Images for Spotify)
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“Glee” actress Jenna Ushkowitz attends the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Entertainment Weekly party. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Samsung)
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Run the Jewels perform at the Spotify House at SXSW 2015. (Alli Harvey / Getty Images for Spotify)
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Actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus attends the “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Entertainment Weekly party on March 15. (Jonathan Leibson / Getty Images for Samsung)
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Executive producer Harrod Blank, left, and film subject/musician Leon Russell attend the “A Poem Is a Naked Person” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actress Diane Ladd takes part in a Q&A following the “I Dream Too Much” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Kevin Hart poses with fans after arriving for the world premiere of “Get Hard” during the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 16. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/AP)
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Actress Danielle Brooks, left, writer and director Katie Cokinos, and actresses Eden Brolin and Diane Ladd attend the “I Dream Too Much” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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“Saturday Night Live” cast member Jay Pharoah attends the Ally Coalition after-party at Soho House Austin. (Roger Kisby / Getty Images for Soho House)
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Project engineer John Zima sits on a bunk inside an EXO, a fast-deploying temporary shelter, at the Robot and Technology Petting Zoo on March 16. The EXO is an 80-square-foot rigid-walled structure that sleeps four, can be assembled in five minutes without tools and has a keyless entry. (Jack Plunkett / Associated Press)
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Cameron Winklevoss, left, and brother Tyler discuss the topic of “Bitcoin: What It Needs to Succeed” during the SXSW Interactive Festival March 16. (Jack Plunkett / Associated Press)
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Amy Schumer reflects on her life and career in “A Conversation With Amy Schumer” during the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 16. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/AP)
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Co-creator Sarah Gertrude Shapiro, left, actresses Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer, co-creator/executive producer Marti Noxon and actor Freddie Stroma speak onstage at the premiere of “UnREAL.” (Sarah Kerver / Getty Images for A + E Networks)
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Executive producer Richard Linklater, left, and writer/director Katie Cokinos attend the “I Dream Too Much” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actress Rose Byrne meets fans as she arrives at the premiere of “Spy.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Recording artist Sir Mix-A-Lot attends the Fast Company Grill during SXSW. (Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Fast Company)
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Molly Ringwald, left, and Ally Sheedy walk the red carpet for “The Breakfast Club” 30th anniversary restoration world premiere. (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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WWE wrestling superstar Holk Hogan shows off his official selfie at the Windex Selfie Mirror Station at Mashable House. (J. Michael Short / Associated Press Images for S.C. Johnson & Son)
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Billy Crystal, left, Josh Gad, Matt Nix and Ben Wexler answer audience questions following the premiere screening of their new FX series, “The Comedians.” (Jack Plunkett / Invision/AP)
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Actress Melissa McCarthy arrives at the premiere of “Spy.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actor Jason Statham arrives at the premiere of “Spy” during the 2015 SXSW Music, Film + Interactive Festival at the Paramount in Austin, Texas. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actresses Judy Greer, left, and Natasha Lyonne, director Jamie Babbit and actress Aubrey Plaza attend the “Fresno” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Filmmaker Bob Byington, left, and actor Jason Schwartzman attend the “7 Chinese Brothers” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Rosa Salazar, left, and Sally Field attend the “Hello my name is Doris” after party. (Natalie Cass / Getty Images for Haven Entertain)
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Actresses Judy Greer, left, and Natasha Lyonne, director Jamie Babbit, and actress Aubrey Plaza attend the “Fresno” premiere at Topfer Theatre. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Composer Johnny Jewel, left, actors Eva Mendes, Saoirse Ronan, Ben Mendelsohn and Iain De Caestecker and director-writer Ryan Gosling take part in a Q&A after the “Lost River” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actress Natasha Lyonne and actor Max Greenfield at the premiere of “Hello, My Name Is Doris.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Guillermo del Toro moderates the Ryan Gosling panel. (Jack Plunkett / Invision/Associated Press)
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Actress Malin Akerman attends the premiere of “The Final Girls.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
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Guests at the trade show in the convention center. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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A man poses for a picture with people dressed as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Sixth street. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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An artist sits on a sidewalk to draw and sell his work. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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Actor John Cusack, left, musician Brian Wilson and director Bill Pohlad arrive at the premiere of “Love & Mercy.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Irish Prime Minister Taoiseach Enda Kenny, left, meets Texas Gov. Greg Abbott at the governor’s mansion in Austin before speaking at the SXSW conference.
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Director Jessica Edwards, left, and singer Mavis Staples arrive at the premiere of “Mavis!” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Musician Rick Holmstorm and singer Mavis Staples perform at the premiere of “Mavis!” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Ben Winkler, chief digital officer at OMD, attends SXSW. (Robin Marchant / Getty Images for PANDORA Media)
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Actor Ashton Kutcher, left, rapper Lil Wayne and founder of A-Grade Investments Guy Oseary backstage during the launch of Ashton Kutcher & Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures at SXSW. (Anna Webber / Getty Images for SOUND)
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Actors Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher and investor/entrepreneur Mark Cuban attend the launch Of Ashton Kutcher & Guy Oseary’s Sound Ventures. (Anna Webber / Getty Images for SOUND)
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Zoe Silverman and Adam Pallin of ASTR performs at De Nolet presented by Ketel One Vodka. (Sasha Haagensen / Getty Images for Ketel One)
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Gillian Jacobs, left, Dan Harmon, Alison Brie, Jim Rash, Ken Jeong, Joel McHale, Paget Brewster and Keith David attend Yahoo’s “Community” Greendale School Dance. (Alli Harvey / Getty Images for Yahoo)
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Rob Hardy, left, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Alex Garland, Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow attend the “Ex Machina” premiere at the Paramount Theatre. (Tim Mosenfelder / Getty Images for A24)
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Director Ryan Gosling arrives at the U.S. premiere of his film “Lost River.” (Jack Plunkett / Invision / Associated Press)
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Actresses Eva Mendes, left, and Saoirse Ronan take part in a Q&A after the “Lost River” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Chef Roble, left, attends as Erykah Badu a.k.a. DJ Lo Down Loretta Brown performs at the Everyday People Party. (Rick Kern / Getty Images for Samsung)
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Mark Ronson performs at Pandora Powerhouse. (Robin Marchant / Getty Images for PANDORA Media)
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Actor Max Greenfield, left, actress Sally Field, actress Natasha Lyonne and actor Stephen Root at the premiere of “Hello, My Name Is Doris.”
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Actress Sally Field, right, poses for a photo at the premiere of “Hello, My Name Is Doris.”
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Writer Laura Terruso and director Michael Showalter at the premiere of “Hello, My Name Is Doris.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actor Adrien Brody attends the “Stone Barn Castle” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images for SXSW)
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Actor and director Ryan Gosling talks about his film “Lost River.”
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Director Guillermo del Toro, left, and Ryan Gosling during the “Conversation With Ryan Gosling” panel. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)
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Director Ondi Timoner attends the premiere of “Brand: A Second Coming.” Russell Brand, the documentary’s subject,
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Actors Malin Akerman, from left, Thomas Middleditch, Alexander Ludwig and Taissa Farmiga attend the premiere of “The Final Girls.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
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Actors Nina Dobrev and Alexander Ludwig attend “The Final Girls” premiere. (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
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Actresses Angela Timbur, left, and Alia Shawkat attend the premiere of “The Final Girls.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
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Producer Toby Louie, from left, actress Rosa Salazar, actor Adam Pally, co-writer and producer Seth Goldsmith and director Charles Hood take part in a Q&A following the “Night Owls” premiere. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images)
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Activist Alexis Jones, left, film subject Lizzie Velasquez and director Sara Hirsh Bordo at the premiere of “A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story.” (Michael Buckner / Getty Images)
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Guests visit a truck based on the Kwik-E-Mart from “The Simpsons.” (Anna Webber / Getty Images for Fox Consumer Pr)
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A Kwik-E-Mart made of Lego on display. (Anna Webber / Getty Images for Fox Consumer Pr)
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Attendees inside the Austin convention center. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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An attendee photographs signs inside the convention center. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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A festival attendee examines movie posters inside the convention center. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
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The “Bates Motel” is one of the attractions. (Roger Kisby / Getty Images)
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A street performer plays the violin in the middle of 6th Street. (Larry W. Smith / EPA)
Soon after, a panel called “SavePoint: A Discussion in the Gaming Community” was submitted for approval. Like “Level Up,” it did not explicitly reference gamergate. But as Vice explained, the moderator and the panelists were all public supporters of the movement.
Gamergate began last year, when a group of gaming enthusiasts rose up against those who were calling to make video games more diverse and less of a boys’ club. The Gamergate camp became known for its frequent verbal attacks on women, and the men who supported those women.
Some of those associated with gamergate made threats of violence against their targets. Anita Sarkeesian, who runs the site Feminist Frequency and has created a series of YouTubes about troubling portrayals of women in video games, was forced to cancel an appearance at Utah State University after several threats of violence. She also had to go into hiding after receiving repeated death and rape threats. Video game developers Zoe Quinn and Brianna Wu were also targeted.
Follow Jessica Roy on Twitter @jessica_roy.
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