Popular Streamers Flee Stalker During Live Stream at Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica, California — Three popular Twitch streamers were the subjects of a frightening encounter with a stalker during a live stream on March 2. Cinna, Valkyrae, and Emiru, who collectively have millions of followers, were participating in a weeklong streaming marathon called the “Sis-A-Thon” when the incident unfolded.

The situation escalated when a man approached the group while they were taking pictures with fans. After asking to sing for them, he pivoted to ask for Emiru’s phone number. Upon her rejection, he stated, “I’ll just keep following you,” prompting the streamers to express their nervousness joking about stalkers.

Concern heightened moments later when the man reappeared and allegedly lunged at them, shouting, “I’ll kill you right now.” The alarming exchange forced them to call for security as they attempted to flee. The entire incident was streamed live on Twitch before the broadcast abruptly cut to a holding screen.

The Santa Monica Police Department confirmed to Rolling Stone that officers responded to reports of threatening behavior and escorted the women to safety. Despite a search for the suspect, he was not located.

In a subsequent Twitch stream, Cinna and Valkyrae shared their distressing experience. Valkyrae emphasized her ongoing efforts to locate the man who threatened them, stating, “He’s still out there, but I am investing as much as I can to find this guy.” Cinna, visibly upset during the stream, highlighted how the incident left them shaken.

Twitch representatives expressed their concern, stating, “We are horrified by any kind of harassment or abuse, even if it took place outside of Twitch. Our safety teams continue to investigate, caring deeply about our creators and their wellbeing.”

The incident is part of a wider pattern affecting female streamers, many of whom have faced harassment both online and offline. Autumn Rhodes, a content creator with over 240,000 Twitch followers, shared her own struggles with persistent stalking that began when she was 19. Her stalker sent thousands of explicit and threatening messages across various platforms before he was arrested years later.

According to Rhodes, law enforcement often lacks adequate responses to ongoing harassment. “The police weren’t doing anything about it; Twitch wasn’t doing anything about it,” she said. Rhodes, who has since obtained a restraining order, noted that many women in similar situations face barriers that make it difficult to seek justice.

Others, like popular streamer Jonna Mae, also shared stories of stalkers who transitioned from fans to harassers. Mae and her partner, Mike Carr, faced a similar situation when they recognized a man who had been stalking them at a San Diego Padres game during TwitchCon. Mae described a panicked escape from the situation, highlighting how stalkers can infiltrate even the safest environments.

Statistically, women face a significant risk of stalking, with one in three women reporting such experiences. The Department of Justice emphasizes the need for more effective protective measures against these pervasive threats that have only intensified with the rise of online platforms.

As Valkyrae, Cinna, and Emiru continue to process their traumatic encounter, many female creators hope their stories will shed light on the crucial need for comprehensive safety measures and support from both platforms and law enforcement to protect against online and offline harassment.