Daniel “Keemstar” Keem is a twitch streamer who is no stranger to controversy. He has recently apologized after his recent comments came full circle back to him regarding the situation at the TwitchCon Partner Party. On September 27 it was revealed that Twitch, in yet another questionable decision that show a complete lack of proper planning, hosted a Partner Party with the removal of a quiet area and addition of an open bar that many felt posed a large safety risk.
The main issue was drinks were served and laid out on a table, unsupervised and accessible by anyone. When "Anne Munition" voiced her concern over the situation on Twitter, Keem responded with a condescending tweet on the matter:
Keem went on to argue over Twitter with Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, who also considered the situation to be an unnecessary risk. Keem went on to imply that because this was a Twitch Partner Party, the risk was almost nonexistent, and jokes about reporting those partners who did drug the available beers.
The comment aged poorly within less than a day when a streamer, KTLODO, stated that she had been roofied at the event last night. The toxin report game back reporting benzos, also known as benzodiazepines, which are often used in drug-facilitated sexual assaults. Tests can be taken to detect the presence of benzodiazepines for a maximum of 72 hours after ingestion.
The situation is exactly what Anne Munition referred to in her original tweet and is exactly why Twitch should be admonished and shamed for the way it set up its Partner Party. Keem meanwhile deleted his original tweets and then added another:
Keem’s reaction highlights a few points, mainly that he does not understand at all the threats faced by women at these kinds of events, and the dangers associated with having one’s drink spiked with an unknown drug. Worse still, he referred to the situation as a “big L” for himself. What exactly was the loss he endured? Being proven wrong that such an open bar was in fact not a safe setup for women? Or that he was wrong that women were overreacting?
The unfortunate circumstances that have brought us to this point are part of a far larger problem. Twitch once again failed to set up a safe space for the women it claims are a part of their community. And, in what is also becoming a recurring trend, a loud man with an audience went out of his way to belittle real world concerns faced by women with it comes to drugs and sexual assault.
Female streamers already have a tough time establishing themselves, as seen this month with Fareeha warned for wearing casual workout clothing, or Trainwreck receiving a short five-day ban for his hate-filled rant against women streamers, calling them “god damn sluts” and accused them of stealing views from those who he viewed as more deserving streamers.
We can all do better as a community to one another, but Twitch, the platform that wants to lead the way, should be the first to help women, not facilitate abuse against them.
Source: dexerto.com, trendsmap.com, kotaku.com