Dominique “SonicFox” McLean AI image incident — Oct 2026

Professional gamer Dominique “SonicFox” McLean withdrew from the Nexcon 2026 gaming convention after discovering that event organizers used generative AI to create promotional materials featuring their likeness without consent. The incident highlights the growing tension between event organizers utilizing cost-cutting AI tools and creators who view the unauthorized use of their digital likeness as a significant breach of professional ethics.

What happened

In October 2026, SonicFox identified a promotional flyer for the Norman, Oklahoma-based convention that appeared to be entirely AI-generated. The imagery included distorted renderings of SonicFox and other attending creators. Upon seeing the material, SonicFox immediately terminated their contract and announced their withdrawal on social media, labeling the use of their likeness as “incredibly disrespectful.”

In response, Ty Bailey, a founder of Ninjutsu Entertainment, posted a video apology on X. Bailey admitted to using generative AI, citing a lack of budget to hire human artists and the pressures of balancing the convention with full-time employment. He explained that the organizers were inexperienced and had struggled to secure artists once they began using AI tools. Despite Bailey’s emotional plea for SonicFox to reconsider, the gamer maintained their decision to cancel. SonicFox accepted the apology but emphasized that there must be consequences for the unauthorized use of their image, suggesting that the organizers should use the funds originally allocated for their appearance fee to hire human artists instead.