Image via Emiru and Twitch
Twitch has recently released a statement on the viral incident related to the Twitch streamer Emiru. Essentially, the popular internet personality was assaulted during a meet-and-greet at TwitchCon. This has resulted in a massive backlash within the community regarding the security lapse.Regarding all the concerns, the streaming platform released a statement on its social media handles, clarifying its stand. They also condemned the behavior of the individual involved in the incident. The following section provides further details on the incident and Twitch’s statement related to the same.
Twitch’s Official Response
Following the Emiru assault incident, Twitch has released a comprehensive statement on X. The statement read: “The safety and security of all those attending TwitchCon is our highest priority. The behavior displayed by the individual involved in the incident yesterday involving a high-profile streamer was completely unacceptable and deeply upsetting.”The statement further added that law enforcement officials were present on-site at TwitchCon and responded immediately to the incident, ensuring swift action was taken. Furthermore, the platform has confirmed that the perpetrator has been permanently banned from Twitch platform and all Twitch-affiliated events. This is a much-needed action from them, as these kinds of acts are certainly not acceptable. In response to the incident, Twitch has also announced that it will be increasing the security protocols at the meet-and-greet check-in areas. Their exact statement read: “We have increased security at the Meet & Greet attendee check-in point and will have additional security personnel surrounding participating streamers. If you’ve RSVPed for a Meet & Greet, please note that we are unable to accommodate +1s for the remainder of the event.”These enhanced security measures will help ensure that incidents similar to this are prevented, and there is a safer environment for both creators and attendees.
Community Backlash
Despite Twitch’s statement on the matter, the streaming community is quite critical of the platform and has been raising several questions. Many streamers, including Valkyrae and Asmongold, have criticized the platform. Valkyrae even pointed out that Emiru was previously denied permission to have her preferred personal security guard present at the event. This decision was quite questionable, given that it led to her vulnerability.
Moving Forward
Although Twitch’s statement is an important acknowledgment of the safety concerns raised, there are further protocols that must be taken to ensure that the creators don’t face incidents like this. Critics have been arguing that the platform must respect creators’ security preferences and provide adequate protective measures.
