[4] Button Poetry has recorded performances by Brittney Black Rose Kapri,[5] Chrysanthemum Tran,[6] Elliot Darrow,[7] Crystal Valentine,[8] Neil Hilborn,[citation needed] Denice Frohman,[9] Rudy Francisco,[10] Danez Smith,[11] Melissa Lozada-Oliva,[12] Emi Mahmoud,[13] Aja Monet,[14] Imani Cezanne,[15] Janae Johnson,[16] Javon Johnson,[17] Desireé Dallagiacomo,[18] Yesika Salgado,[19] Andrea Gibson, Rudy Francisco, Sabrina Benaim, Porsha Olayiwola,[20] Tonya Ingram,[21] Muggs Fogarty,[22] Siaara Freeman,[23] and Hanif Abdurraqib.

"[24] Viral poets have been labeled "Instapoets" due to their specific style and creation for a more broad audience and their placement in visual/social media platforms.

[28] Alleged "founder of slam poetry", Marc Smith, who was a featured performer on final stage that year, upset much of the audience with his set, which led to protests and changes in the scheduled programming of events.

We will not be demoralized, nor will our traumas be trivialized for revenue, especially not by an organization that cannot simply provide us with a safe space.” Finishing off the statement poet Justice Ameer stated, "when we say 'remember why you wrote it, it's not to help white people make money.

"[28] In 2021, Button Poetry President & Founder Sam Van Cook released a statement sharing his concerns about Young Chicago Authors (YCA) and their involvement in enabling serial rapists and abusers.