Popular YouTube streamer Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm recently said he knows the reason behind his permanent ban from Twitch and is suing the Amazon-owned company. Beahm was banned from Twitch in June 2020, forcing the streamer to move to YouTube instead.
Previously a developer at Sledgehammer Games, Beahm rose to fame on Twitch playing FPS games like Call of Duty and PUBG. Donning his signature red tactical vest, sunglasses, black wig, and moustache, Beahm became the eccentric persona known as Dr Disrespect. One of the most popular streamers on Twitch prior to his removal, Dr Disrespect’s ban came abruptly during contract negotiations with the platform, notably during a time when top streamers such as Ninja and Shroud moved to Mixer, a now-defunct rival Microsoft site.
During a recent YouTube stream, Dr Disrespect stated that he is aware of the reason behind his permanent ban from Twitch and is currently pursuing legal action against the company. The streamer said that his exile from the popular streaming platform had significantly affected his income, claiming he now earns only “a quarter” of what he used to make on Twitch. Beahm says that he has known about the reasoning behind his Twitch ban for months, but he did not go into any further detail. Stating, “There’s a reason why we’re suing the f–k out of them,” the Doc also revealed that he has faced challenges with negotiating sponsorships and collaborations following his ban.
Although the specifics behind Dr Disrespect’s removal from the site are still yet to be revealed, many have speculated that Dr Disrespect’s Twitch ban was caused by Mixer. At the time of the incident, Microsoft’s rival platform was going on the offensive and granting high-dollar streamer contracts in a bid to dethrone Twitch as the most popular streaming site. Dr Disrespect has hinted in other recent streams that Twitch’s decision to permanently suspend him was motivated by monetary reasons, but the true reason behind the ban will very likely be made public in due time should Beahm’s lawsuit progress further.
Although still the premier platform for gameplay and variety streaming, the site has come under a lot of fire from many of its current and former content creators recently, as Twitch streamers are planning a strike on September 1 to protest its alleged inaction against harassment and hate raids. Twitch’s lack of transparency when making decisions like Dr Disrespect‘s ban has caused many to question the company’s policies, and his apparently impending lawsuit and the upcoming strike may be the beginning of pushback from frustrated streamers.
