‘Downton Abbey’ Congressman withdraws from SXSW [updated]

Update 4:03 p.m. Pacific: Aaron Schock represents Illinois, not Hawaii, in Congress.

Having becoming a lightning rod for controversy after being discovered to have used taxpayer funds to lavishly outfit his office in the style of “Downtown Abbey,” a Congressman from Illinois has reportedly pulled out of a South by Southwest panel.

According to The Hill, Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) pulled out of his SXSW panel, “Millennials: The Unstoppable Force.”

Schock began taking flak last month when word emerged that he had decorated his Congressional office as if it was set in the PBS British period show, Downton Abbey.

Schock was originally scheduled to appear alongside Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) and Evan Feinberg, the president of Generation Opportunity. Schock’s place now goes to Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), The Hill reported.

Schock did not immediately respond to a VentureBeat request for comment.

The panel addresses the concerns of the 90 million Americans in the millennial generation.

“They are a tech-savvy, highly educated, and engaged group poised to change the world around them,” the panel’s description reads. “Unfortunately, they are facing a number of hurdles such as unprecedented unemployment and a status quo hindering new innovations and technology. In the midst of this climate, a growing cast of young leaders are emerging to change the narrative. Through this bipartisan panel, we will hear from Millennial elected officials who are putting aside partisan labels and working to change our future together.”