The 2025 Streamer Awards drew record viewership but, according to multiple news outlets covering the event, sparked immediate backlash, prompting organizer QTCinderella to promise substantial changes for the 2026 edition. 

The December 6 ceremony at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles faced criticism across several fronts. Floor host FanFan drew condemnation for comparing award winner Kai Cenat to Sean “Diddy” Combs, referencing the music mogul facing sexual abuse allegations. Fellow streamer Tylil James publicly confronted FanFan on stage, stating “If you’re going to be on the mic making jokes, at least let it be funny.”

QTCinderella herself faced backlash for asking 17-year-old streamer RaKai “what’s the coolest thing you’ve ever stolen?” during the broadcast. While QTCinderella later clarified the joke referenced RaKai’s recent Twitch ban for stealing flowers during a livestream, viewers unaware of this context perceived the comment as racially insensitive.

Influencer India Love stormed the stage after FaZe Adapt won “Breakout Streamer of the Year,” declaring that DDG and RaKai deserved the award instead. Security escorted Love from the venue as the crowd booed. Love later apologized, admitting she was “under the influence” and calling her behavior “distasteful” and “unnecessary.”

The VTuber community expressed frustration when TheBurntPeanut won “Best VTuber,” with critics arguing he uses a “Snapchat filter” rather than a traditional VTuber model.

The show experienced persistent technical issues including audio glitches and camera crews repeatedly misidentifying nominees. During the “Best Music Streamer” announcement, cameras focused on another nominee instead of winner PlaqueBoyMax, prompting accusations of production incompetence.

Host Promises ‘Hard Pivot’ for 2026

QTCinderella addressed the criticism during a December 8 livestream, calling the backlash “really valid” and promising improvements. “We’re fixing it, okay, next year, I promise. I have so many ideas, it’s going to be incredible,” she said.

QTCinderella acknowledged the event has outgrown its original format: “This show is just so much bigger than it used to be … I have to adjust for that.” She noted that inside jokes and references to behind-the-scenes drama “didn’t translate well to the larger audience watching at home.”

The host promised that the 2026 edition will feature stronger pacing, more rewarding category moments, and a format that balances live crowd energy with viewer engagement. She specifically noted plans to shift the tone and structure while avoiding niche humor that alienates the broader audience.

Transparency Questions Persist

Pre-existing concerns about the nomination process resurfaced following the ceremony. The awards use a 70% fan vote and 30% industry panel split, but panel members’ identities and exact scoring methods remain undisclosed. 

Streamers, including Asmongold and xQc, previously accused QTCinderella of favoritism and filtering nominees for “brand safety,” noting the absence of Kick and Rumble streamers from nominations.

QTCinderella maintained that the process is fan-driven and that creators whose communities don’t actively participate in nominations and voting face disadvantages.

Checkout Our Latest Podcast