Pokimane Says 'Well-Off Streamers' Shouldn't Play Activision Blizzard Games
Pokimane has leant her voice to the debate surrounding the allegations made against Activision Blizzard. Explaining her views on Twitch, the streamer claimed that popular streamers shouldn't continue playing games from Activision Blizzard.
The revelations surrounding the "frat boy" culture at Activision Blizzard sent shockwaves across the gaming industry. So much so, that the accusations have prompted a heated and often conflicting discussion among players as to whether it is still okay to play Activision Blizzard's games.
Adding her voice to the mix, Twitch streamer Imane "Pokimane" Anys has argued that streamers who are well-established should think twice about including Activision Blizzard content in their videos.
Why Was Pokimane Talking About Activision Blizzard?
On December 8, Pokimane was doing a live stream when she came across a clip circulating on social media. In the distressing video, a current female Activision Blizzard employee held a press conference in which she claimed she had been the victim of sexual assault and harassment in the workplace. Her words sparked a wave of horror and disgust from both Pokimane and the fans on her streaming chat.
The employee, only referred to as "Christine" to protect her anonymity, went into specific detail about the assault and harassment she claims to have suffered during her time at the company. Christine claimed that she was instructed not to go to HR about the allegations and that she was even demoted after coming forward about the harassment.
Activision Blizzard is the company behind some of the most famous and well-loved games of all time, including World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Call of Duty. However, the horrific allegations made against Activision Blizzard has prompted many industry companies and professionals to distance themselves from the game publisher. Not only did Xbox threaten to cut ties with Activision, but Vanguard's Alpha seemed to indicate that the Call Of Duty team had severed connections with Activision Blizzard.
What Did Pokimane Have To Say About Streamers Playing Activision Blizzard Games?
Following the allegations, a question which is dividing players is whether gaming streamers should still be featuring Activision Blizzard games in their content. Given how so many streamers centre their videos on games such as Call Of Duty, there's no easy answer for many. Although, streamer Pokimane is certain of her answer. Pokimane claimed that "well-off" streamers should avoid playing Activision Blizzard game full stop.
Pokimane watched the footage during one of her streams on December 8. Many of the fans commenting in the chat were horrified by the allegations made by Christine at the press conference. After a fan asked what she thought about streamers who continue to play Activision Blizzard games, Pokimane said: "I think if you are a financially well-off streamer, you just f*cking shouldn’t. However, I do understand that some people may be in a situation where their income is heavily based around a Blizzard game, but I think in that case they should still be extremely vocal about how they're against this if they’re still gonna play their games."
As a female streamer, Pokimane has used her platform to highlight the misogyny and sexism that she has had to fight against in her career. Obviously, she is not afraid to share her views with regards to the distressing allegations made against Activision Blizzard. While there is the argument that the art should be separated from the artist, in this instance for Pokimane, the two go hand-in-hand.
