A scheduled event at the Stonestown Galleria in San Francisco with "Twilight" star Robert Pattinson was canceled Monday morning (November 10) when a crowd of roughly 3,000 fans quickly turned violent, according to a report on TMZ.com.
According to firsthand accounts on the Twilight Lexicon Blog, at least one girl was left bloody and several dozen others were pushed and prodded by the melee.
The event was presented by Hot Topic and promised the first 500 fans that lined up an opportunity to purchase a "Twilight" Tour T-shirt and a chance to meet Pattinson. When reached for comment, representatives from the Stonestown Galleria management and security offices transferred MTV News to Hot Topic's corporate offices. As of press time, Hot Topic had not responded to our requests for comment.
According to comments on the Lexicon Blog, the event was a disaster due to poor organization and planning, with just one security guard responsible for corralling thousands of screaming fans.
"There was one security guy trying his best to control everyone, but soon there were more fans. ... Hot Topic and the mall should have organized this better," user Patty wrote. "I mean, come on, only 500 people were going to be allowed. I see why it turned into chaos. Everyone wanted to be part of the 500, including myself!!"
Apparently, some fans tried creating their own list of 500, only to be rebuffed by late-comers (the list was not officially sanctioned as part of the process). Adding to the confusion, fans were reportedly told they could line up at different times.
"It was completely RIDICULOUS this morning!! I was there at 4 in the morning and signed up on a 'list' that was supposed to let how many people were supposed to get in, but apparently this list wasn't valid," user Cheyenne wrote. "It was completely UNORGANIZED and the Hot Topic people told us they 'weren't prepared for this big of a crowd.' "
While details remain murky, there is apparently one thing all "Twilight" fans can agree on.
"All those who pushed, shoved and disobeyed should be ashamed of themselves," user Returned Secrets wrote. "It is stuff like this that will continue to propagate the stigma of 'Twilight' fans as uncontrollable screaming girls. I feel sorry for those who tried to be on good behavior and were injured in the process."
The Hot Topic "Twilight" Tour will continue throughout the rest of the week, with planned appearances by the cast in cities across America. To see if the tour is stopping in your neck of the woods, head to HotTopic.com.
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