Reports have emerged indicating that the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has dismissed four employees in the wake of a significant controversy linked to the museum's Pokemon exhibition from last autumn. Since the debut of Nintendo's popular monster-catching franchise in 1996, the series has garnered global acclaim, leading to various forms of recognition, including digital and in-person exhibitions. Last year's 'Pokemon Colors' exhibit in Yokohama exemplified the ongoing efforts to showcase the franchise's art and history. However, the recent exhibition has been marred by controversy.
The highly-anticipated collaboration between Pokemon and the Van Gogh Museum last autumn featured the iconic creatures reimagined in the style of renowned artist Vincent Van Gogh. The event also offered a limited-edition trading card, 'Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat,' to museum visitors. Regrettably, the card was withdrawn from the exhibit due to the aggressive behavior of visitors vying to acquire it and widespread scalping. Subsequently, several museum employees have been terminated due to serious misconduct related to the event.
According to Eurogamer, reliable sources from the museum have confirmed the suspension of at least four employees in connection with the event. The allegations against the employees encompass misappropriating boxes of Pokemon cards featured in the exhibition and divulging restricted information about the event. A museum insider also disclosed that one of the employees implicated in the controversy had served at the Van Gogh Museum for 25 years prior to the incident. Although the museum did not disclose the total number of employees involved, it was revealed that additional personnel had been relieved of their duties in December.
The immense popularity of Pokemon and its trading card game has contributed to the prevalence of scalping within the community. Some of the game's most sought-after cards can command thousands of dollars on online platforms like eBay, with limited-edition and vintage cards often fetching even higher prices. The game's promotional events have frequently been targeted by scalpers, with Pokemon's collaborations with McDonald's regularly sparking controversy among fervent fans.
Despite scalping being a persistent issue within the Pokemon community, both the Pokemon Company and individual retailers have taken measures to deter and combat this practice. Following the removal of the aforementioned Van Gogh Pikachu card, The Pokemon Company offered the 'Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat' card as a promotion through its online store. Other retailers have implemented strategies to thwart scalpers, such as imposing purchase limits or regulating the buyers of Pokemon cards. The enduring popularity of Pokemon will undoubtedly continue to fuel the demand for its limited-edition cards.