Twitch as a platform is no stranger to controversy, with the huge amount of content creators on the service often making it difficult to keep track of the huge amounts of drama that ensues. While a streamer's on-stream conduct is often the source of drama in the way of resultant bans and suspensions, the sponsorship deals that a streamer may take can also be the source of controversy.
One of the largest sponsorship-based Twitch controversies came recently, when many popular streamers were linked to an involvement in a Saudi Arabian gaming sponsorship deal. The announcement of these links immediately garnered platform-wide criticism, and have opened up a wider dialogue regarding the morality and ethics of certain sponsorships that streamers can become associated with.
The Core Details of the Saudi Arabia Twitch Sponsorship
While many specifics regarding the sponsorship deal are not known, many of the more pertinent details are. The sponsorship in question was offered to many high-profile streamers, and would have seen those who accept the deal fly out to Saudi Arabia, where they would partake in a four-day gaming event supposedly centered around the popular battle royale title Fortnite.
Popular Twitch streamer pokelawls was approached with the sponsorship and, while choosing not to become involved, he did read out some of the contractual obligations for the sponsorship deal. The deal has many social media clauses, for example, requiring streamers who attend the event to make several promotional posts across YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. Although not confirmed, it has been suggested that the sponsorship would see partaking streamers earn six-figure payments, only exacerbating the controversy surrounding the deal.
The Saudi Arabia Twitch Sponsorship Controversy
The primary source of controversy surrounding the deal stems from it requiring streamers to travel to and promote Saudi Arabia, a country that has received global negative attention for its human rights violations in recent years. With Saudi Arabia not adhering to the United Nations adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, many argue that accepting this sponsorship deal would see streamers promote a regime that many consider to be brutal.
One of the most high-profile streamers involved in this controversy is Mizkif, a Twitch streamer that commands over 2 million followers on the platform. Mizkif originally approached the sponsorship with enthusiasm, believing it to be a charity event and a potentially unique experience, but has since changed his mind. Upon hearing the backlash regarding the sponsorship, Mizkif spoke with other Twitch streamer HasanAbi, who educated Mizkif as to the controversy surrounding the Saudi Arabian regime.
Although Mizkif has now backed out of the sponsorship, there are other popular streamers that are still reportedly involved or at least linked with the sponsored event. League of Legends streamer and cosplayer Emiru had also reportedly accepted the sponsorship, but has since reportedly pulled out in a manner very similar to Mizkif.
Another massive online presence that is supposedly involved in the sponsored event is Twitch streamer Tfue. With Tfue being one of the most successful and high-profile Fortnite streamers, his supposed involvement with the sponsorship gives an idea as to the intended scale of the event. At the time of writing, it is currently unknown whether Tfue intends to continue his involvement with the sponsorship, or if he will be influenced to distance himself like his fellow streamers.
As previously mentioned, the reportedly high levels of compensation that the sponsorship is offering to streamers has made it much more of an overt question of morality for many who have been following the controversy. When the money in question can be potentially be tied to practices that violate human rights, it is understandable why the sponsorship has been the source of so much contention within the Twitch community.