A high-profile incident at TwitchCon San Diego spotlights growing safety concerns for content creators at live events, particularly women, as the platform faces criticism over its security protocols, as NBC News reports. 

Popular Twitch streamer Emily-Beth Schunk, known online as Emiru, reported being assaulted during a fan meet-and-greet on Friday, October 17, the first day of the three-day convention. Video footage shows a male attendee approaching Emiru, grabbing her and attempting to kiss her before her personal security guard intervened. Emiru, who has nearly 2 million followers on Twitch and is a co-owner of gaming media production brand One True King, said the man “was allowed to cross multiple barriers at TwitchCon and even in front of other creators.”

The incident raises questions about event security standards. According to Emiru, while her personal security guard stepped in, multiple TwitchCon security staff members “did not react and let the guy walk away.” She later challenged Twitch’s official statement as “a blatant lie,” noting her assailant was not “immediately” caught or detained, contradicting the platform’s claims.

“He was allowed to walk away from my meet and greet and I didn’t hear he was caught until hours after he attacked me,” she wrote, adding that action seemed to occur only because “my manager was pressing for it, not because TwitchCon staff present thought it was a big deal.”

Twitch’s Response and Security Adjustments

In response to the incident, Twitch announced increased security measures, including enhanced protocols at meet-and-greet check-in points, elimination of plus-one accommodations, and additional security personnel around participating streamers. The platform said they have “immediately blocked this individual from returning to the TwitchCon premises, and they are banned indefinitely from Twitch, both online and in-person events.”

Emiru countered in a video statement that Twitch had initially planned to suspend the man for just 30 days before implementing the indefinite ban after she objected. She confirmed her manager contacted police shortly after the incident, and she intends to press charges “at the bare minimum.”

The San Diego Police Department confirmed receiving a report of a man grabbing a woman’s shoulders and attempting to kiss her during a TwitchCon meet-and-greet. According to police, “Security intervened and removed the male, who fled the area,” and while officers responded, no arrests have been made.

Creator Community Reaction and Broader Implications

The assault validates pre-existing safety concerns expressed by several prominent women streamers. A month before the convention, creators Valkyrae and QTCinderella canceled their live podcast recording at TwitchCon, with QTCinderella stating, “I don’t feel irrational about it. I feel very scared.” Valkyrae emphasized that “it just takes one person,” while Pokimane, who also withdrew from the event, noted that “if we were to have any sort of safety issues, they’re most likely to occur somewhere where people know we’re going to be.”

Following Emiru’s assault, Valkyrae criticized the platform, stating “it’s awful that TwitchCon safety concerns were an issue even before the event, but they still didn’t take it seriously.” Pokimane expressed hope that this incident “pushes Twitch to finally take our concerns seriously.”

This incident occurs amid heightened awareness of creator safety following the fatal stabbing of Japanese streamer Airi Sato by a viewer while livestreaming earlier this year.

Industry Context and Platform Challenges

The assault also highlights longstanding issues of toxicity against women in gaming communities. Female streamers on Twitch have historically faced sexual harassment from viewers, prompting the platform to implement stricter policies in recent years.

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy, who previously stated that Twitch takes event security “extremely seriously,” acknowledged in a post-incident interview that there’s “always more work to be done” regarding trust and safety. He added, “The reality is – even if you do a lot in terms of security in today’s world – there are challenges that can present themselves, especially when someone is putting themselves out there.”

The incident has prompted broader industry discussions about creator safety protocols at public events where fans have pre-scheduled access to content creators, with some streamers now reconsidering participation in future conventions.

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