Streaming platform Twitch recently made waves by banning several prominent Arab streamers following a controversial panel that took place at TwitchCon last month. The banned streamers, including CapriSunnPapi, Fr0gan, Raffoulticket, DenimsTV, and Vio, were part of a live-streamed panel called “Rating Streamers” where they ranked popular Twitch personalities based on who could or couldn’t say “habibi,” an Arab term for “friend” or “beloved.”
The bans came after days of social media backlash accusing the streamers of being antisemitic. Fr0gan, in particular, faced criticism for comments made during a livestream where she expressed frustration with the actions of the US military in various countries. She later issued an apology clarifying her remarks.
However, it seems that the bans were not directly related to Fr0gan’s recent comments but rather to the Rating Streamers panel from September 21. During the panel, the streamers used a tier list format to categorize Twitch personalities based on their perceived acceptance of the term “habibi.” The tiers ranged from “Arab Coded” to “Loves Sabra,” a reference to a popular hummus brand.
The TwitchCon video containing the panel has since been removed from the platform, although it is still available on YouTube. The streamers involved in the panel, who come from diverse backgrounds including Arab, Jewish, and Christian, host a podcast together called Ayyrabs.
The controversy surrounding the panel caught the attention of YouTuber Ethan Klein, who criticized the ranking system and accused the panel of being biased against Jewish individuals. He later called for Twitch CEO Dan Clancy to resign over the incident.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also weighed in on the situation, commending Twitch for taking action against antisemitic behavior. The ADL emphasized the need for platforms like Twitch to address hate speech and antisemitism effectively.
While the exact reasons for the bans remain unclear, Twitch has stated that it is committed to combating hateful conduct on its platform. The company recently announced new policies aimed at preventing such incidents in the future.
Overall, the incident highlights the challenges that platforms like Twitch face in moderating content and addressing issues of hate speech and discrimination. It also underscores the importance of promoting respectful and inclusive behavior in online communities.
