The cosplayer Ben Shamma, widely known as Maul Cosplay, found himself at the center of a heated controversy after organizing a Red Dead Redemption 2 inspired photo shoot on the Oak Alley plantation. The location, chosen for its visual resemblance to Braithwaite Manor from the game, became the focal point of debate given its history tied to enslaved labor. Shamma explained that the plantation’s management saw no issue with the shoot, a decision that sparked strong reactions online and within certain fan communities.
The project was shared across social platforms, and a calendar featuring the photos was released for sale. Critics argued that staging imagery on a slave-era site of memory was disrespectful to Black history, while supporters contended that the shoot was a blend of cosplay artistry and cinematic homage. The dialogue quickly escalated as fans and observers weighed the boundaries between fan work and historical reverence.
One commenter questioned the ethics of continuing to treat real sites with painful pasts as entertainment backdrops, while another voiced concern that such venues are being marketed as tourist attractions rather than as places of remembrance. The intensity of the responses highlighted a broader conversation about the responsibilities of creators who choose historical sites for modern media projects.
In response to the backlash, Shamma issued statements acknowledging that the choice of location might have been inappropriate. He removed the photographs from public access and indicated plans to rethink the presentation of the project, including the calendars. The incident follows Shamma’s rise in the cosplay world, where he earned recognition for portraying Geralt from The Witcher 3 and more recently collaborated on a Kratos and Atreus cosplay for a God of War: Ragnarok project. Discussions around the incident also touched on broader themes of cultural sensitivity within the cosplay community and the responsibilities that come with recreating scenes tied to real, painful histories.
As conversations continued, many fans emphasized the need for more thoughtful curations of real-world locations in cosplay work, while others argued for respecting the sites as historical markers rather than mere backdrops. The episode underscored how digital communities react when creative projects intersect with complex memory landscapes, and it sparked ongoing debates about ethics, representation, and the role of public memory in fan culture.
Industry observers noted that this case illustrates the delicate balance between artistic expression and historical accountability. It also highlighted how social media amplifies both praise and criticism in real time, shaping public perception long after a project has concluded. The involved parties have since moved to address the concerns raised, with reflections that aim to guide future projects toward more mindful collaborations with historically significant spaces. The broader takeaway centers on respecting the memories tied to real places while still supporting creative cosplay and storytelling that resonates with audiences today.
Source: VG Times