The Red Shoes

Frazer Brown, director of the short film *The Red Shoes*, has become the focal point of one of the comics industry's most infamous crowdfunding controversies. In 2020, Brown launched a Kickstarter campaign for a charity comic anthology titled *Tales from the Quarantine*, featuring contributions from over 400 creators. The campaign raised £37,185 (approximately \$47,000 USD at the time), nearly three times its original goal of £13,000 (around \$16,500 USD). Despite the overwhelming financial support, the project quickly fell apart. Years later, the main rewards-physical hardcover and paperback copies of the anthology-remain undelivered. While a few backers received small items like posters or trading cards, the central product was never shipped. A digital version of the book was eventually released, but it was heavily criticized for being incomplete, full of formatting issues, and missing promised content.

Brown's response to concerns only fueled the controversy. Many backers and contributors who sought updates or accountability were met with hostility. Reports surfaced of people being blocked on social media, and some even claimed they were threatened with legal or police action for publicly criticizing the project's handling. Several creators involved in the anthology described being silenced or intimidated after raising legitimate concerns. Throughout, Brown's communication remained erratic, with repeated excuses about lost emails and vague shipping promises that never came to fruition.

The project's charitable commitments also remain unfulfilled. Brown had pledged to donate proceeds to NHS Charities and The Hero Initiative, but no public proof has been provided that any donations were ever made. This lack of financial transparency regarding the nearly \$47,000 raised has severely damaged trust among backers and within the wider creative community.

Due to mounting pressure, Kickstarter's legal team reportedly launched an investigation, leading to restrictions on Brown's account. The *Tales from the Quarantine* fiasco has since become a cautionary tale across the crowdfunding world-highlighting the need for transparency, accountability, and ethical responsibility in creator-led projects.