Marty O’Donnell, the Republican candidate running for Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District and renowned video game composer behind the Halo franchise, was disinvited from this week’s SacAnime convention in Sacramento following reports that event staff cited safety concerns related to his political statements.
O’Donnell confirmed the revocation of his invitation through a statement shared online: “The promoter for SacAnime has shared that their LGBTQ+ staff does not feel comfortable if you attend the event. Based on your recently reported statements of the political campaign, they have to rescinded [sic] their invitation to not cause any further staff upset.”
O’Donnell, known for composing the theme music of Halo—a franchise with over 80 million cumulative sales—has previously made appearances at major gaming events. He expressed disappointment in the cancellation, stating: “If you thought we defeated Cancel Culture in 2024, guess again!”
The disinvitation follows heightened scrutiny of O’Donnell after a video shared by the X account “HQNewsNow” (formerly @KamalaHQ) claimed he said during an July 2024 appearance that he “calls for persecuting LGBTQ+ people.” The account described itself as part of Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign rapid-response team. O’Donnell denied the allegations, telling Blaze News the cancellation stemmed from “propaganda from leftist supporters of my political opponent.”
SacAnime did not respond to requests for comment regarding O’Donnell’s removal, while his campaign directed supporters to contribute at MartyforCongress.vote. Critics questioned the event organizers’ decision, noting O’Donnell’s influence in the gaming industry and his role as a prominent political figure.
