On October 17, a video went viral on social media showing a man suddenly rushing toward Emiru (real name Emily-Beth Schunk) and trying to kiss her. The 27-year-old streamer immediately backed away as her personal bodyguard intervened and pushed the attacker aside.
With more than 2 million followers, Emiru is one of Twitch’s most famous cosplayers. Following the incident, she publicly called out the platform’s poor security measures, according to the New York Post.
“The man who attacked me passed through multiple security barriers to get close to me, right before another streamer’s meet-and-greet. He touched my face and tried to kiss me,” – she wrote on X (Twitter).
Emiru stated that although there were 3–4 TwitchCon security staff in the area, none reacted and only her private security stepped in.
Twitch later issued a statement saying that security had been strengthened and that attendees were now prohibited from bringing plus-ones. A Twitch representative also claimed the attacker had been immediately removed and permanently banned from all Twitch events and the platform.
“Twitch does not tolerate any harassment or threats to community safety,” – the statement read.
But Emiru slammed the response, calling it “an outright lie.”
She said the man was not detained on the spot and was allowed to walk away freely: “I only heard that he was detained many hours later, and it felt like it only happened because my management pushed for it not because TwitchCon took it seriously,”
Emiru said she was still “shaken” after the assault. In a YouTube video, she revealed that her management has contacted police and is considering pressing charges. She also claimed Twitch originally intended to suspend the attacker for just one month before deciding on a lifetime ban.
The San Diego Sheriff’s Office has not yet released information regarding the suspect’s identity or any charges.
This incident has intensified ongoing fears among female creators regarding safety at TwitchCon.
The concerns worsened earlier this year after Japanese streamer Airi Sato (22) was murdered by a fan in Tokyo while filming on the street a case that rocked the streaming community worldwide.
Streamer QTCinderella expressed her fear in a recent podcast: “It scares me a lot. I don’t think the fear is irrational anymore.”
As calls for stricter security grow louder, fans and fellow creators are urging Twitch to take more accountability for the safety of streamers especially women at both online and offline events.
Would you like a shorter, more news-style version for publication, or a more sensational headline for social media engagement?
Sources: Znews
You must be logged in to post a comment.