Zack “Asmongold” Hoyt, one of Twitch’s most popular streamers is in a precarious position. After making alleged racist comments about Palestinians during a livestream, Asmongold issued what many consider a half-hearted apology. The streamer also decided to step back from his leadership roles at One True King (OTK) and Starforge Systems.
His alleged comments about Palestinians being “inferior” and part of a “genocidal culture” were shocking not just to his audience but to the online community in general. Although he has since expressed regret, calling his comments “disgusting,” the backlash has continued.
Asmongold is known for his influential presence on Twitch with over 3.5 million followers. The streamer was quickly banned from Tiwtch after his comments. According to initial reports, the ban is expected to last 14 days, though many argue that this punishment is too lenient given the severity of his statements.
These 2-week bans are literally just a vacation for these streamers, it’s not a punishment at all 💀
— Shiina (@ShiinaBR) October 15, 2024
The short ban has been criticized as more of a “vacation” than a valid punishment by some with comments joking about how he should take the time to clean up. Twitch’s terms of service clearly prohibit dehumanizing speech, and the streamer’s remarks were widely seen as crossing that line.
In response to the ban and the overwhelming backlash, Asmongold released a 20-minute video on YouTube. He admitted that his comments were “disgusting,” but also framed them as part of a larger critique of religious extremism.
While he acknowledged that he generalized Palestinians, he stopped short of fully retracting his views. He went on to state that he was against religious fundamentalism. This partial walk-back was insufficient for many viewers, who felt that his apology failed to address the harm his words caused.
— Starforge Systems (@StarforgePCs) October 16, 2024
The results of his actions extend beyond Twitch. The streamer announced that he would step down from his leadership roles at the streaming organization One True King (OTK) and Starforge Systems, companies he co-founded.
— OTK (@OTKnetwork) October 16, 2024
OTK released a statement condemning his comments while also acknowledging his desire for self-improvement. While we can accept these words from the streamer at face value, there is still a lot of skepticism from the community.
Despite the growing backlash, the streamer will not be changing the structure of his streaming content. While he apologized for the specific incident, the streamer made it clear that he did not intend to back away from polarizing discussions.
In a Reddit post, he defended his right to engage in controversial topics, expressing that he would continue to speak his mind on contentious issues. His comments about returning to stream with the same provocative style suggest that his apology is more of a temporary measure rather than a step toward meaningful reform.
While he may return to streaming once his ban is lifted, the damage to his reputation has already been done. This situation shows how fame and influence can lead to a dangerous sense of entitlement.
In his video, Asmongold admitted to becoming the “mean-spirited, rude, callous, psychopathic version” of himself, a change that he attributed to the pressures of constant streaming.
What do you think of the streamer’s commitment to change? Let us know in the comments!
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