Pumpkin's Fanboy Expo Booth Canceled—But Not for the Reason You Think

When Pumpkin’s booth got the ax from Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee, the internet jumped to one conclusion: her recently launched OnlyFans account had crossed a line at a family-friendly event. But that’s not quite the full story—and the real reason is actually kind of sneaky.

David Heynen, promoter of the Knoxville event, clarified that Fanboy Expo has maintained family-friendly standards since 2012 and has a strict policy against vendors promoting or selling anything related to the adult industry. The issue wasn’t Pumpkin herself—it was who was really pulling the strings. The booth was purchased under the name“Knoxville Bistro,”but organizers discovered the space had actually been bought on behalf of a local gentleman’s club that subsequently promoted Pumpkin’s appearance on social media.

“This vendor did not purchase under the name of the gentleman’s club,”Heynen told media outlets.“Additionally, we do not want the event to have any association with an adult industry business.”He made the distinction clear:“The booth was canceled because it was purchased by a gentleman’s club, not because of her.”It’s a crucial separation—Fanboy Expo wasn’t rejecting Pumpkin’s presence outright, but rather objecting to the venue’s hidden affiliation with an adult business operating behind a front name.

So while Pumpkin, whose real name is Lauryn Efird, has indeed ventured into the OnlyFans space with a $23.39-per-month subscription model for solo content, that wasn’t the dealbreaker. Her boyfriend, Darrin Kitchens, has publicly backed the move as a legitimate income stream. The cancellation was really about deception and image protection—a reminder that even in today’s anything-goes entertainment landscape, there are still lines around what family-oriented events will endorse, and how they police vendor partnerships matters.