Hasan Piker Reflects on Controversial Comments

Streamer Hasan Piker recently stated, “I should have phrased things better,” following backlash from a comment he made during a podcast two weeks ago. His remark that America “deserved” 9/11 became a hot topic.

In the podcast with Mehdi Hasan, Piker acknowledged that while he could have articulated his thoughts more carefully, he often resorts to using “derogatory” terms to describe various racial groups.

“I said this back in 2019, and if you listen to the whole conversation, you’d grasp the context of what I meant,” Piker reflected. “I realize I should have expressed myself more clearly.”

This comment was part of a Twitch broadcast back in 2019, where he remarked, “This is insane. America deserved 9/11, damn it. What I’m saying is… it was totally of our own making.”

The September 11 attacks claimed 2,977 American lives, marking the deadliest terrorist incident in U.S. history.

After the podcast drew attention, Piker shared his concern about how his words were wielded by Republican opponents. “I apologize to those I offended, but more so for giving them the chance to use this against me as well,” he explained.

Piker has been actively supporting Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, which brought up discussions around the candidate’s viewpoints. Although El-Sayed has attempted to distance himself from Piker’s stance, he still came to Piker’s defense, admitting on Meet the Press that it was indeed a foolish statement.

El-Sayed criticized Meet the Press host Kristen Welker for employing what he described as “whitewash politics” and attempting to revive “cancel culture.”

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont also weighed in, commenting on Piker’s 9/11 remarks. “I think that was a dumb thing to say. But he has a vast following, and many of his ideas resonate with people… We need inclusivity, and figures like Piker should definitely be a part of that,” Sanders stated.

Additionally, during his podcast, Piker stood by his derogatory remarks aimed at Israeli settlers, referring to Republicans as “inbreds.” “I’ve always called Republicans inbred bastards. I call Nazis inbred bastards too—you know, just those words,” he mentioned, recalling that he faced bans for such comments.