Twitch Removes Long-Standing PogChamp Emote Following ‘Controversial’ Tweet
Gone are the days of spamming PogChamp in Twitch chat after your favourite streamer pulls off something truly poggers. Twitch has officially removed the PogChamp emote from its platform after the man behind the face, Ryan "Gootecks" Gutierrez, made a rather controversial tweet regarding the events which unfolded in Washington DC and The Capitol.
The PogChamp emote has been one of the most iconic forms of expressing delight and surprise on the platform which encourages users to communicate and react alongside streamers and their community. Expanding from Twitch to other social media platforms, they PogChamp emote has been iconic for eight years. However, following tweets that "encouraged violence" from the face of the emote, the platform which made the emote has subsequently removed it from existence, reports Early Game.
Ryan "Gootecks" Gutierrez took to Twitter following the protests in The Capitol and called for more action to be taken by the protestors, leaving Twitch no choice but to morally cancel the emote. Twitch announced the removal of PogChamp through Twitter, condemning Gutierrez's behaviour.
Twitch themselves were keen to reassure fans, streamers, and communities that the sentiment of Pog will live on as it is not defined by the person or image and will be replaced with another befitting image at a later date.
"We want the sentiment and use of Pog to live on" stated Twitch before adding, "its meaning is much bigger than the person depicted or image itself– and it has a big place in Twitch culture. However, we can't in good conscience continue to enable the use of the image.
"We will work with the community to design a new emote for the most hype moments on Twitch".
So, welcome the era of Pepe dominance as Twitch users look for an alternative to express their emotions in pixelated form.
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