The Bored Ape Yacht Club’s official Twitter account has verified that UV lights were likely responsible for reported eye and skin problems among attendees at ApeFest. At least 15 participants experienced vision loss, eye pain, and skin issues after the free event for Bored and Mutant Ape Yacht Club owners in Hong Kong.
In a November 9 Twitter post, Yuga’s Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) account stated, “UV-A emitting lights installed in one corner of the event was likely the cause of the reported issues.” The confirmation followed a joint investigation with Jack Morton Worldwide, the agency behind ApeFest, which involved on-site inspections, testing, interviews with event contractors, and a review of equipment logs and specification sheets.
UVA, accounting for about 95% of UV radiation reaching Earth’s surface, can pose risks to eye health, according to the World Health Organization. The BAYC did not disclose specific details about the UVA lights used at ApeFest but urged those with symptoms to seek medical assistance and report their exposure.
Despite some commenters noting that DMs on Twitter have been turned off, the NFT project encouraged affected individuals to message them on X. The BAYC expressed regret that the incident overshadowed the ApeFest experience and affirmed its commitment to supporting the recovery of those affected.
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