I’m sad to see him leave, but I certainly don’t blame him. The whole fandom needs to be ripped down and restarted with what it once was.

i agree, but the political-call-out-culture (and wont say what else) is destroying what the real furry fandom was..

I agree. The obsession it now has with virtue signaling to make it some giant hugbox for an ultra minority of people has gotten out of control. There is a sort of cultist mindset about it these days. Don't agee 100% with em? You're an enemy they label as "alt-right" or "Nazi" and whatever other labels will apply incorrectly. I expect nothing less given they use labels incorrectly day in and day out...and redefine the ones that don't fit the agenda.

They are shining examples of toxic positivity in action as it leads to.. well.. negative behavior like the very same hate they profess to be against.

The sad part is they are in full denial that they are actually the extremists with how they go about things.

It will probably eventually run its course as more and more people get fed up of their thought and speech policing. Outside the fandom it is already starting to happen now. But yeah I have avoided conventions because of this nonsense. There is a time and place for politics. Cons aren't one of em. If someone is legit causing problems (and I don't mean by simply being there lol ) then they can get the boot accordingly but there is a very real bias at play so.. i don't bother. I'll stick around and look at art online. Less drama

Yup. And like the Nazis they don't think they are doing anything wrong. That's why Communists and Nazis are more alike than they care to admit. Can't be anti-fascist when the methods are fascist. Its like fighting racial discrimination by discriminating based on race.. its just the same thing only done for a different group of people.

These people are just straight up hypocrites. The sooner they lose power the better.

Wow. He's one of the people who got me into the fandom in the first place, but I totally understand why he's leaving. The fandom's definitely not what it used to be. Even though I was not around when the fandom was at it's peak, I wish it were still that way. I'll miss seeing him but it's good for people to move on sometimes.

He led the Anthrcon fursuit parade for the last 20+ years.

Its really sad that hes retiring. I dont know him but he seems like a fun guy aswell!

Farewell Yappy~

He led the Anthrocon fursuit parade for the last 20+ years, he was a major icon to what the good furry fandom was before all the hate & recent drama took it over.

Nooo we need our yappy... dont go.. was it me Did I drive you away Sob

His Twitter page explains a lot of what happened. It had nothing to do with you what so ever.

Yikes....that's quite something...I'm surprised hearing that he's leaving...didn't think it'd be so soon.

it's sad to see him go, he will be missed

Cant say I blame anyone for wanting to bow out.
I've felt that way for quite some time myself now. Its been a mess and continues to be a mess. I'll just enjoy the art from afar.
Hopefully he can go back to enjoying the things he loves and not have to worry about the current state of the fandom (and almost all fandoms now tbh)

A lot of good people have left the active real world fandom over the years because of the whole cancel culture and political correctness bullshit there is now.

It's hard to be happy and carefree and silly and artistic in a fandom that wants to destroy or censor people for saying or doing or thinking "unapproved" things.

The fandom is a shell of what it used to be, especially now with a lot of people even afraid to make comments or constructive criticism on art and stories, let alone political stuff, and with so many artists pushing their stuff to the toxic wastelands of twitter, it is only making things worse.

Diversity should include thoughts and opinions and the ability to agree to disagree with people like the fandom I fell in love with used to be in the 90s and early 2000s before social media made the world a worse place.

Yeah its like you have to sing artists praises at all times. I understand not beating someone verbally into the ground so that they quit but so many just cannot seem to take negative feedback on their work in stride. I mean even professional artists can get that way too, one I can personally attest to.

Yappy Fox never liked me, but I was always polite and civil with him during the rare times we were together in group activities. He and I are the same age, and while I can only speak for myself, at my age, I find the middle school mentality of the furry fandom nauseating. Twitter is such a toxic piece of shit program that helped furry degrade into the cesspool of politics and "Woke cancel culture" that it is now. I'm glad I never used it. Ultimately though, no one ever really "leaves the fandom". It's not a building or club one must physically be at to be a part of. He can of course choose to burn his fursuits and/or never look at anything anthropomorphic again, but I highly doubt that will be the case. His Twitter page explains a lot about what happened, and Kuddle Pup is the one who was there for him in his time of crisis. What ever he chooses, I wish Randy well.

I never did not like you.. You are just Feline is all :) I'm just too shy to talk to people in approach, and tend to lock up.

Ah, well thank you for letting me know, I really do appreciate it. You don't have to worry about me being too "Feline", I seem to be relegated to the role of "Evil Duncan". I am very glad that Kuddle Pup was there for you in your time of need. I know what the loss of losing one's mom feels like, it magnifies all other issues a lot. I hope things start getting better for you. At our age, life is way too short to not make the most of the time.

He's been in the fandom a little more than I have. I've seen him at many events, so it'll be sad to see him go. I understand why he's retiring, but his legacy of those he's influenced and the fursuiters he's influenced is broad and will be remembered.

It was because of him that I joined the fandom. I came across his website back in 1997 or so. I saw that he had made a fursuit and I was asking a bunch of questions about it. That was when he told me about the fandom and that I should look up SnapETiger. So I did and has been with the furry fandom for over 25 years now.

same here, Yappy is a original founder, one of who i discovered back in the late 1990's.

I had a pretty hard core meltdown at MP late sunday afternoon. Kuddlepup, who has been a good friend of mine for nearly as long as I have been in the fandom, was there to see me break down. I think he's the only one to ever see me break down. He had a long chat with me, and though his conversations, he managed to get me to see things from a different angle. I'm going to try to take this outlook in a different direction. I still totally find Fursuiting the most key component of my life, and that part is hard to get away from. I was/am just getting accused of very disturbing things. It all comes with the price of becoming a leader/popufur. People get jealous, and try to find a way to take you down. They don't realise they are driving the people who have spent nearly $100K getting the same events they are attending off the ground. They would rather scorch the earth for no reason. The shit that has gone down last year nearly made me give up my life. I'm going to try to take a different approach now, and stick my toe back into the flood waters.

I'm so sorry to hear this my friend.. i know the fandom has changed, and in a bad direction sadly.. I have known you since 1999 Anthrocon, & looked up to you as a founding member of the early furry fandom when i discovered it.. I know the last 3 to 4 years the fandom has become extremely full of political division, full of hate, call-out-culture, drama, (and i dare to say Wo******) its sad to see what once was a all-inviting community where everyone who shared the common interest of enjoying Anthropomorphic arts, fursuiting, and everyone felt at home in a community that shares common interests & likes. Even myself have been called-out for what they say is "cultural appropriation" for wearing the tribal headress of part of my own family heritage ancestry, (who of they support) but to them its wrong because of their narrow-minded assumptions. The furry fandom is no longer the open, friendly, all-welcoming community for those of us who founded it, share common interests, and enjoy the arts & fursuits. its now infested with the 17 ~ 22 year old entitled, spoiled, arrogant, wo** you know what who are looking for attention by pushing their negative political-derived hate on the fandom and their quest to turn the fandom into their clutch to do you-know-what. I have lost interest too in the fandom, but i hang one a thread of it because i met so many great friends through the fandom, and deep-down i still enjoy the roots of the original furry fandom. ( if you want the full reply i can send it via PM. ( i can post it here as it will offend a certain immature type of people who are the ones destroying our fandom. - Yappy you are one of the great founders of the furry fandom, the original fandom that was fun, happy, all-inviting & full of happiness! - FS6

Ah yes the popufur hate. There are some who do let their popularity get to their heads but blindly hating on a popular figure really is a childish mentality to have. But let's be real here much of the "new blood" in the fandom are still immature and stuck in that grade school level mindset.

He's been around the fandom for long time, but at some point we all move on. Didn't know him much but heard he was a great guy.

Damn..... I remember when I first found the fandom in the mid 2000's. Everyone was so nice and knew how to enjoy being around each other without causing drama. It was fun going to cons and events. Now with all the toxic "karens" and all the "cancel culture" BS and hearing a ton of horror stories It's not so fun anymore.

Although I have not had the opportunity to meet Yappy IRL and I don't know if I will ever get the chance to I know he will be missed but never forgotten. Also my first time ever seeing Yappy was when I browsing on youtube many, many, many years ago. Now every time I hear "Larger than Life" It reminds me of him! https://youtu.be/OFWcoHHe3u8

He shouldn't retire. He should semi-retire. Start going to cons to be around people instead of being responsible for all the things. He's done his duty for king and country and plenty of people appreciate that. I do.

I’ve heard of the name but I’ve never met him..shame. Not sure now I’ll ever meet him

Thats sad to hear and I totally agree with what you said.

I know that name and actually, I've seen him around, but mostly
on the media. Never met him, nor knew much about him. But until
I have read, from what you and others have said here. Sounds like
a great guy he was in the fandom. I wish him well. Would have loved
to meet him.

I thought the saying goes, no one could ever stop being a furry.
Do it for yourself and such, doesn't mean a person has to be in the
fandom, to be one. I'll probably be a furry, until I pass on one day.
But I get it, everyone is different. I honestly feel like, the good days,
are no more and these days, aren't really all that great. People I knew,
I've lost connection with, or have moved on, or aren't alive anymore.
It's very difficult, meeting and connecting with new people. Maybe it
just has to do with, different generations.

Anyway, thanks for sharing this about Yappy.

Oh no. Not another elder fur!