San Diego Mayor Denies Orlando Bloom Claim He Fled Comic-Con Exhibit Over Immigrant Theme

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s office says there’s no truth to claims the Republican abruptly left an interactive Comic-Con exhibit hosted by Amazon Prime, after learning he would be portrayed as an “immigrant.”

The brouhaha started when Carnival Row star Orlando Bloom said during a Friday panel on the upcoming series that Faulconer visited the exhibit, but left because he didn’t like what he saw.

The installation allowed attendees to play a human or creature character. According to Bloom and some published reports, Faulconer chose a creature without realizing they’re all immigrants on the series. He was reportedly issued an “identity card” saying he was a “mythological scrappy immigrant,” prompting him to leave.

Related Story

'The Eternals' Details Unveiled At Marvel's Comic-Con Panel, Angelina Jolie Surprises Hall H, Pic Opening Nov. 2020

Faulconer’s office refuted the claims, saying he left because the wait was too long.

“The mayor enjoyed visiting several studio installations set up throughout San Diego this week, and unfortunately there was a slight wait there and he had to move along. We’re excited Amazon is showcasing its new shows in San Diego this week,” his office said in a statement to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

“Mayor Faulconer and his administration actively work with nonprofits and local agencies to provide shelter to migrant families, and has a long record of advocating for comprehensive immigration reform,” the statement continued. “To be clear, the Mayor never even went inside the activation for this show as there was a wait. He continued to tour and saw activations for other Amazon studio shows and then left. The mayor’s strong record on immigration speaks for itself.”

Faulconer tweeted video earlier in the week, showing him taking in the scene at Comic-Con.

“A morning at #ComicCon is a morning well spent,” he tweeted Thursday.

Carnival Row, an eight-part series from Rene Echevarria, Travis Beacham and Legendary Television, is set in a Victorian fantasy world filled with mythological immigrant creatures whose homelands were invaded by the empires of man.

Bloom is joined in the cast by Cara Delevingne, David Gyasi, Karla Crome, Indira Varma, Tamzin Merchant, Simon McBurney, Andrew Gower and Jamie Harris.

The series premieres August 30, in over 200 countries and territories with dubbed foreign-language versions launching later this year.