Twitch has once again found itself at the centre of a heated debate after a viral video compilation of popular streamer HasanAbi triggered outrage. Shared widely on X, the clip appeared to show HasanAbi making explicit calls for violence during livestreams.
In one segment, he was heard saying that liberals should be “gutting” their opponents on stage, remarks many interpreted as a direct incitement. The video, amplified by fellow creator John “Tectone,” quickly spread, fuelling demands for Twitch to take strong action.
Elon Musk enters the debate
The controversy reached another level when Elon Musk stepped in. Responding on X, the Tesla and SpaceX chief posted a cryptic “What’s up here?” before tagging Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, drawing attention to Twitch’s corporate parentage. Musk later doubled down, replying “Yes” to another user demanding HasanAbi’s ban. His involvement, unsurprisingly, widened the scope of the debate, reframing it as not only a Twitch problem but also an issue of Amazon’s oversight of its streaming platform.
HasanAbi fires back
On September 14, HasanAbi, whose real name is Hasan Piker, broke his silence. Accusing Musk of amplifying cherry-picked, out-of-context clips, he lashed out during a livestream and on X. Hasan claimed that Musk, “the richest dude on the planet,” spends his time stoking racial divisions on his platform while misleadingly portraying him as an extremist. He dismissed the controversy as “so dumb,” suggesting the outrage was fuelled more by political agendas than genuine concern.
Musk versus streamers?
This is not the first time Musk has locked horns with online creators. The billionaire has previously clashed with streamers and content platforms over their moderation rules, sometimes portraying himself as a defender of free speech, while at other times calling for stricter measures against voices he finds dangerous.
For HasanAbi, however, the episode underscores a deeper concern: that Musk’s immense influence can distort narratives, amplifying selectively edited content to attack political opponents. As the debate rages on, Twitch itself has yet to issue a statement on HasanAbi’s future, leaving the controversy simmering and its user base divided.
Social media demands accountability
The clip ignited fierce debate online, with users calling for Twitch’s leadership to be held accountable. One commentator, @MadamSavvy, even urged CEO Dan Clancy to resign and demanded a third-party investigation into the platform’s alleged tolerance of violent rhetoric.
What is Twitch?
Twitch, an Amazon-owned subsidiary, has long faced criticism over inconsistent moderation practices. Smaller creators often claim they are swiftly punished for minor infractions, while high-profile streamers like HasanAbi are accused of escaping scrutiny despite more serious allegations.