The 2020 Twitch ban of Guy Beahm, better known as Dr Disrespect, has gained new details from a former Twitch employee, as reported by Rolling Stone. The revelations include Beahm’s exchange of sexually explicit messages with a minor in 2017 through Twitch’s Whispers feature, which has since been discontinued. The former employee clarified that the minor had informed Beahm of their age, yet he persisted in sending inappropriate messages.
The former Twitch employee emphasized that there was no ambiguity about the nature of the messages. Even after acknowledging the minor’s age, Beahm continued sending sexually explicit content, which went beyond just inappropriate interactions. This led to Twitch’s rapid decision to permanently ban Beahm, considering the gravity of his actions.
Twitch’s response to the incident included forming an incident response team named “Gold Sparrow” to handle allegations of sexual misconduct by streamers. This team was established in response to several such allegations that surfaced in June 2020. Despite these actions, neither Twitch nor Beahm have commented publicly on the recent developments reported by Rolling Stone.
The fallout extended to YouTube, where Beahm currently streams. Ryan Wyatt, former global head of gaming partnerships at Google, confirmed that YouTube did not offer Beahm a contract due to the rumors about his Twitch ban involving inappropriate messages with a minor.
The situation was further ignited by a tweet from former Twitch employee Cody Conners, who hinted at Beahm’s misconduct, prompting more ex-employees to speak out.
Beahm has responded with a series of statements, admitting the conversations with the minor but denying any illegal activity or intent to meet in person. He referenced his 2021 lawsuit against Twitch, which was resolved in 2022.
Despite his defense, brands and partners like Turtle Beach, 2K, the San Francisco 49ers, and his own game studio, Midnight Society, have severed ties with him following their own investigations into the allegations.
