Twitch pulls Black Lives Matter video criticised for being overwhelmingly white
"Our goal was to demonstrate the importance of allyship."
Twitch has removed a Black Lives Matter video following criticism that too many of the featured streamers were white.
Published yesterday, the video featured prominent streamers such as jacksepticeye, CrankGameplays and DrLupo, and while a few Black streamers were briefly shown, most of the talking was done by white streamers. In fact, only one line in the minute-long video was from a Black streamer.
Black creators took to Twitter to express their dismay that the video had failed to properly represent Black people, highlighting the many streamers who would have been better suited to speak. Twitch has now deleted the video.
I'm sorry, but this is maddening to me.
— The João Gilberto of Arab Men In Their Mid 20's (@2leftjoycons) July 9, 2020
Twitch talks about the importance of #BLM
YET STILL
1. Has 90% of the talking done by white/nonblack people
2. Doesn't promote any black streamers/content creators
Share and promote Black Twitch content, here or in retweets! pic.twitter.com/fMJ8DNq7yU
This is aggravating.
— Aunt PT / Ms Vanessa B 🏳️🌈 (@pleasantlytwstd) July 9, 2020
You can't say 'support black lives' then put two black people in there, and purposely overshadow them with white creators that (are obviously) going to bring in millions.
Let me explain real fast. https://t.co/3xp7o4O33V
Oh hey, remember when I hosted a much needed #BLACKAFRoundtable on my channel for one (1) hour & these were the stats from it?
— CB @ PAX EAST (@CriticalBard) July 9, 2020
You have Black streamers who do the damn thing too, @Twitch. Black voices can speak for themselves. Support us by actually supporting us.
Period. pic.twitter.com/hD14Jff8Ip
Support Black Creators....when 2 out of the 9 folks shown in the video are black people. Please delete your pinned tweet. Ya’ll consistently miss the mark and never listen when your told to do better. https://t.co/5uHJL3fabG
— Milady Confetti (@MiladyConfetti) July 9, 2020
This is a whole bucket of fail. There's a WHOLE LOT of Black Creators on here who not only speak out on this ALL THE TIME, but don't get any credit for it.
— Villain Era In Effect 🔪 🔜 #PAXEast (@cypheroftyr) July 9, 2020
Y'all are speaking over us. Highlight Black folks doing the work already. https://t.co/6X4toho32z
In response to the backlash, Twitch said it "heard" what critics were saying, but argued its goal was to demonstrate "the importance of allyship", a message Twitch says it failed to make clear. In the replies to this tweet, many argued that Black voices should be given priority over allies, and that Twitch is yet to act on the video's message of promoting Black content creators.
We hear you. Our goal was to demonstrate the importance of allyship - a message we didn’t make clear. Only by working together can we create a positive change.
— Twitch (@Twitch) July 9, 2020
This isn't the only controversy Twitch has faced this week, as another video celebrating LGBTQ+ content creators was criticised for a slogan claiming the "G in LGBTQIA+ also stands for gamer" (via PinkNews). The video for this was deleted, and then reposted without the controversial graphic.
Twitch put out a video on pride and this was one of the tag lines. People are already confused about what each letter means.
— iamBrandon 🏳️🌈 (@iamBrandonTV) July 5, 2020
It was deleted pic.twitter.com/1H7FwE8F7G
