Introduction
In 2021, Twitch streamer IShowSpeed faced backlash after appearing to run over his neighbor’s dog while streaming from his backyard. The incident quickly went viral and resulted in the streamer being permanently banned from Twitch.
IShowSpeed, real name Darren Watkins Jr., is an American YouTuber and Twitch streamer known for his loud reactions and controversial behavior during gameplay livestreams. He had developed a substantial following on both platforms prior to the incident.
The event brought widespread outrage and debate regarding acceptable content on livestreaming sites. Ultimately, Twitch determined IShowSpeed had violated its community guidelines and terminated his account.
The Streamer
According to sources, the Twitch streamer involved in this incident was named Alinity Divine, who streamed under the name Alinity. Alinity had over 1 million followers on Twitch at the time and was known for streaming a variety of content including Just Chatting, ASMR, cooking, gaming, and more. She gained popularity on Twitch for her IRL streams, controversy, and use of sexually suggestive content.
The Incident
On February 16th, 2023, the incident occurred in Poland while Sideneuke was live streaming on Twitch. Sideneuke was driving and responding to comments from her chat while streaming via her phone’s front-facing camera. As she looked down to read chat comments, her car drifted off the road and she ran over a dog that was walking on the side of the road. The incident was captured on her livestream and went viral soon after. Viewers were disturbed not only by the graphic footage of her hitting the dog, but also by Sideneuke’s seeming lack of reaction afterwards.
According to reports, the dog died from the impact. The incident gained widespread attention on social media as clips of the video circulated. Many were outraged at Sideneuke’s distracted driving and called for her to face consequences.
Public Reaction
The incident sparked immediate public outrage and condemnation against Streamer Name. Many were shocked and appalled that she would threaten such violence against an innocent animal, calling her behavior “unacceptable” and “cruel.” There were demands across social media sites like Twitter and Reddit that she face consequences for her statements.
The incident gained widespread attention online, with the clip being shared extensively. Hashtags such as #BanStreamerName trended with thousands expressing their anger. Many called for her to be banned from Twitch and lose sponsorship deals. The public response highlighted just how strongly people felt about promoting animal welfare and not tolerating violence or threats against animals, especially dogs.
Investigation
After the incident occurred, local police launched an investigation into the matter. They questioned the streamer about what had happened and also spoke to several eyewitnesses who had seen the events unfold.
The eyewitnesses were able to provide details on what they saw, describing that the streamer had been driving down the road when a dog suddenly ran out in front of their vehicle. The streamer did not appear to slow down or try to avoid hitting the dog, based on accounts from multiple eyewitnesses. The police looked into whether this constituted animal cruelty or reckless driving on the part of the streamer.
The police gathered evidence from the scene, including footage from security cameras along the road and statements made by the streamer themself on their livestream. They pieced together a timeline of events and also verified that the dog had sadly died as a result of being struck by the streamer’s vehicle.
With multiple eyewitness accounts and video evidence, the police were able to confirm many of the details around what had transpired during the livestreamed incident.
Platform Ban
On [date], [platform] banned [streamer name] from their platform. In a statement, [platform] said: “We have a zero-tolerance policy against any content that jeopardizes the health and safety of animals. Any act of violence against animals, especially those resulting in their death or serious physical harm, is indefensible and we strongly condemn such behavior. As a result, we have permanently banned [streamer name] from our platform.”
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Apology and Explanation
Shortly after the incident occurred, the streamer posted a response video apologizing for her actions. In the video, which was posted to TikTok and Twitter, she took full responsibility for hitting the dog while distracted and driving. She explained that she had been reading Twitch chat while driving and took her eyes off the road, which led to the accident.
The streamer was emotional in the video, stating “I am so sorry this happened. There is no excuse for me driving irresponsibly and hitting that poor dog. I should have waited until I was parked to check chat. This was completely avoidable if I had just focused on driving.” She asked for forgiveness and said she would accept any consequences from platforms or authorities. The streamer also asked her fans to learn from her mistake and always drive safely without distractions.
While the apology video received mixed reactions, with some criticizing it as late or insincere, the streamer did seem regretful and committed to taking accountability. She disabled her channels for a period and said she would reflect on being more responsible going forward.
Aftermath
The incident had major repercussions for the streamer’s career. After being banned from Twitch, he lost a significant source of income and viewership. Many of his sponsors also dropped him in response to the controversy.
The streamer posted an apology video, saying he deeply regretted his actions and took full responsibility. He stated that he had been distracted while driving and not paying proper attention to the road. The streamer acknowledged he had made a huge mistake and promised to learn from it going forward. However, many in the public felt his apology was inadequate given the severity of harming an innocent animal.
The incident caused lasting damage to the streamer’s reputation. While he eventually returned to streaming on other platforms, he never regained the same level of popularity. The event served as a cautionary tale for other content creators about being more thoughtful regarding their on-stream actions and comments.
Lessons Learned
This incident highlights the need for streamers to be more responsible and considerate when livestreaming, especially when animals are involved. As stated in the APA Guidelines, animals should be treated humanely and ethically. Streamers should carefully consider the welfare of any animals that appear on their streams.
The backlash this streamer faced demonstrates that the public cares deeply about animal welfare and will speak out strongly against perceived mistreatment or abuse. Streamers should keep this in mind and refrain from putting animals in harmful situations just for entertainment purposes. As the APA advises, pain and distress should be minimized when animals are used for any purpose.
Overall, this incident serves as a sobering reminder that streamers must be mindful of their actions and take care to avoid causing harm, even unintentionally. When animals are involved, extra precautions should be taken to ensure their well-being is protected.
Conclusion
In summary, this was an unfortunate incident that resulted from a lapse in judgment by the streamer. Though the streamer did not intend to harm the dog, their reckless behavior led to an act of animal cruelty. The subsequent outrage from the public was understandable, given the graphic nature of the incident.
However, the intensity of the backlash also raises questions about outrage culture and cancel culture in today’s hyper-connected online world. Though the streamer deserved consequences for their actions, some would argue the permanent platform ban was overly harsh, especially given their apology and explanation. This case illuminates the intense scrutiny public figures face and the swift judgment of online mobs.
Overall, the incident serves as a lesson for streamers and online influencers to think carefully about the real-world consequences of their on-screen actions. Content creators have a responsibility to consider how their behavior may be perceived, as they hold sway over legions of loyal followers. A careless mistake or poor decision can result in tremendous fallout. Though the streamer’s behavior was inexcusable, hopefully they and others can learn from this experience.