Gamer is twitchy about women
One of the world’s most popular video-game streamers has said he refuses to play games with women to avoid gossip about his love life.
Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, below, who is married to fellow video-game streamer Jessica Goch, has 10-million subscribers and is the biggest streamer on video streaming platform Twitch.
Video streamers earn money from playing live video games to an audience, accompanied by their own commentary. Popular streamers can earn large sums through advertising and subscription charges.
The 26-year-old gamer makes more than $500,000 a month from his channel and is perhaps best known for playing the hit Fortnite.
Blevins recently played Fortnite with rapper Drake while more than 230,000 people watched online. His popular streams, however, are notably absent of female gamers.
In an interview with gaming website Polygon, Blevins said: “If I have one conversation with one female streamer where we’re playing with one another, and even if there’s a hint of flirting, that is going to be taken and going to be put on every single video and be clickbait forever.”
Video-game streaming is a way for gamers to make money out of their hobby, but it has opened them up to attacks and abuse from online trolls.
Imane “Pokimane” Anys is a female gaming star who often streams Fortnite with pro player Ali “Myth” Kabbani. They have had to fight off dating rumours.
Imane said: “It sucks that things like [Blevins’ decision] have to be made into a big deal when I don’t think they have to be.”
But other Twitch streamers said Blevins' view wasn't helping women who are harassed online. Twitch partner Austen Marie tweeted that his stance was “problematic and doesn’t help in any way for women making their way in the industry”.
Blevins later responded: “While I understand some people have implied my views mean I have something against playing with women, I want to make clear the issue I'm addressing is online harassment.” He said he looks ”forward to the opportunity to meet and play with all kinds of Fortnite players in future tournaments and events”.
What is Twitch?
Founded in 2011, Twitch began as a videostreaming service aimed at online gamers and has been dubbed the “YouTube of gaming”. Users watch celebrity gamers compete in multiplayer death matches on popular games including Fortnite, PUBG, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive.