Twitch Faces Criticism Following Assault at Event
Twitch is under fire after a popular streamer named Emiru was captured on video being attacked by a fan during a meet-and-greet at TwitchCon.
The footage circulating on social media shows a man assaulting Emil—whose real name is Emily Beth Schunk—by forcibly grabbing her face and attempting to kiss her during an event on the first day of the convention in San Diego.
In the clip, Schunk, 27, appears to flinch as her security guard rushes in to intervene.
As a well-known cosplayer with over 2 million followers on Twitch, Schunk has publicly criticized the platform’s reaction to the incident. In a statement on X, she expressed her outrage, stating, “Yesterday, the man who assaulted me was allowed to jump over multiple barriers at TwitchCon, and even grabbed me by the face and tried to kiss me in front of another creator’s handshake.”
She added, “The individual who responded in the video is my own security guard… but there were at least three or four other security personnel nearby, and they didn’t act, letting the man leave.”
Twitch released a response, committing to enhanced security measures at events and banning the individual involved from TwitchCon. The company stated, “We immediately prevented this individual from returning to the venue and have indefinitely banned him from both online and in-person events. We are coordinating with the affected creator’s team and will continue to follow our standard protocols and cooperate with law enforcement investigations.” They emphasized that they do not tolerate harassment.
However, Schunk asserted that Twitch’s statement was misleading, claiming that the assailant was not apprehended right away. “He was allowed to leave my meet-and-greet, and I only learned he had been caught hours later. It felt like this response happened only because my manager pushed for it, not because TwitchCon staff deemed it serious,” she shared.
She described her reaction to the event as “visibly shaken.” In a video posted on YouTube, she indicated her manager contacted the police after the incident and plans to file charges against the assailant. Furthermore, she alleged that Twitch initially considered a temporary suspension for him before opting for an indefinite ban.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office hasn’t provided additional information regarding the man or any charges moved against him.
This distressing event has resurfaced concerns about safety at TwitchCon, especially following the tragic murder of Japanese streamer Airi Sato earlier this year. Sato, 22, had been violently attacked by a follower while filming in Tokyo.
Reflecting on these dangers, streamer QTCinderella expressed her fears, stating on a podcast, “I just feel very scared.” It’s a sentiment shared by many in the streaming community, highlighting the pressing need for improved safety measures.
