Twitch Responds to Assault on Streamers at Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica, California – Twitch has addressed the disturbing incident involving popular streamers Valkyrae, Emiru, and Cinna during a live broadcast at Santa Monica Pier on March 2. The encounter, which escalated into a frightening confrontation, has raised questions about the safety of IRL (in real life) streaming.

The three streamers were participating in a marathon livestream when they were approached by a man who initially appeared to be a fan. However, the situation quickly deteriorated as he pressured them for personal phone numbers before threatening, ‘I’ll kill you right now.’ The streamers managed to evade the man, but the encounter left them shaken and fans worried about their safety while streaming in public.

A week following the event, a Twitch representative issued a statement expressing the company’s horror at the harassment faced by their creators, both on and off the platform. “We are horrified by the harassment and abuse targeting our creators,” the representative stated, adding that Twitch is “working to ensure they’re being supported” and that safety teams are investigating the incident.

Details concerning whether Twitch has contacted Valkyrae, Emiru, or Cinna directly remain unspecified. The company’s commitment to addressing the harassment shows a recognition of the growing concerns over streamer safety.

This incident is not an isolated case. Streamers have increasingly faced dangerous scenarios, including stream sniping, wherein viewers track down streamers in real life. Some have fallen victim to swatting—a dangerous prank involving false reports that lead to police raids—further emphasizing the risks associated with streaming.

Valkyrae has expressed her determination to see the perpetrator brought to justice, encouraging anyone with information to contact the police. Given that the suspect’s face was visible during the livestream, authorities may have leads as they continue their investigation.

As this unsettling incident unfolds, the three women, along with their followers, can only hope for swift action that ensures their safety and sets a precedent for protecting content creators in similar situations.