Trade show models are sometimes subject to sexual harassment, especially if they are related to a male-oriented industry. In 2005, a man posing as a disabled person attended E3 in a wheelchair in order to grope the models and take upskirt photos, which he posted on the General [M]ayhem forums.

This resulted in several exhibitors threatening legal action. In 2006, E3 "banned" booth babes by requiring them to adhere to a stricter dress code, and some speculate that this was linked to the 2005 incident.