The gaming community is abuzz with controversy as renowned streamer Pokimane shares
her thoughts on fellow streamer xQc’s staggering $100 million two-year contract with Kick.
The deal not only made headlines due to its astounding value but also because of the
apparent connection between xQc’s gambling activities, Twitch’s stance on gambling, and
Kick’s association with an established gambling site, Stake.com.
This eye-popping deal has sparked a flurry of reactions from fellow streamers, igniting a
back-and-forth exchange of criticisms and potshots. During a livestream on June 20, Imane
‘Pokimane‘ Anys publicly stated that she would never stream on Kick, even if offered $10
million (an amount seemingly chosen for comparison rather than representing xQc’s
massive payday).
Pokimane expressed her reluctance to compromise ethics for financial gain. While she later
clarified that her comments were not directly aimed at xQc but rather reflected her own
perspective, the context surrounding the discussion of Kick and the mention of xQc’s name
make it challenging to separate her remarks from their connection to the streamer.
In response, xQc swiftly entered the fray, during one of his livestreams. He expressed his
disagreement with the idea that moral and ethical considerations should be decisive factors
in discussions about gambling (referred to as “gamba” by xQc).
During the debate, Pokimane accused xQc of falling into a “baited” trap and claimed that
her comments had been taken out of context. The discussion became increasingly heated,
with petty remarks exchanged between the streamers. Another popular streamer, Hasan,
also joined in the antics, resulting in a circular argument that encompassed the relationship
between Kick and Stake, Twitch’s ownership by Amazon, the ethical implications of
promoting gambling, and the alignment of stances with audience expectations.
Amouranth, another streamer who recently signed a deal with Kick, speculated that
Pokimane mentioned xQc to regain clout and relevance after witnessing reduced streaming
activity.
The ongoing saga shows no signs of slowing down. Kick may also experience buyer’s
remorse in the future, as xQc’s streams have already encountered complications.
