Popular streamer Dr. DisRespect's recent permanent ban on Twitch has sent shock waves throughout the numerous gaming communities. Amid the chaos of the recent announcement, some fans have questioned what will happen to those who have supported Dr. DisRespect, real name Herschel Beahm, through the Twitch platform.
Just under a day after the announcement of Dr. DisRespect's permaban from the platform, Twitch has confirmed that all subscriptions have been canceled and will be refunded. The announcement came via a mass email sent to subscribers which noted a refund will appear in the coming days.
Alongside the confirmation of subscription refunds, Dr. Disrespect's custom emotes will also be removed from Twitch. Following reports indicated that Dr. Disrespect's partnership with Discord has also abruptly ended. This is an unprecedented move for Twitch to permanently ban one of its most popular streamers with little warning or reason provided to the community at large.
There is still confusion surrounding Herschel "Dr DisRespect" Beahm's ban. No reason has been provided as to the streamer's transgression. Early theories focused around the new wave of DMCA takedowns that have crippled popular channels although this has been refuted. Others have pointed to Twitch taking a harder stance on sexual harassment claims amid a new wave of the #MeToo movement. As many streamers currently face accusations, Dr. DisRespect is not among the growing list of accused. No allegations have been made publicly against Beahm with regards to sexual misconduct.
While Dr. DisRespect has faced no allegations, the now former Twitch personality has faced controversies in the past. Dr DisRespect's previous ban was last year during E3 2019 where he was followed by his cameraman into a men's public bathroom. His most recent controversy was due to statements made regarding the coronavirus. While Dr. Disrespect was not banned for these comments, he faced severe criticism from the online community.
Twitch has only provided a vague statement regarding Dr. DisRespect's ban. The streaming platform stated that they take appropriate action "when we have evidence that a streamer has acted in violation of our Community Guidelines." Rod Breslau, an insider who was one of the first to tweet about Beahm's ban, sent another tweet adding more speculation. Breslau says that he has confirmed the reason for Dr Disrespects's ban via sources but would not disclose the information due "to the importance and sensitivity around the subject." Breslau had previously confirmed that the ban was not due to a DMCA takedown.
This news comes amid a giant shakeup within the streaming world. Microsoft announced that its streaming service Mixer is shuting down in July. Updates on the status of Dr. DisRespect's ban from Twitch continue to be posted online sporadically. This is still a developing story and we will continue to update as more information is available.