Three notable brands AT&T, JPMorgan Chase, and Dunkin’ have stopped their advertising services on the popular streaming platform Twitch. The withdrawal came after a few livestreamers claimed in October 2024 that the streaming company promoted antisemitism, i.e. hatred towards Jewish people.
Besides the three bands, another sponsor Chevron is reportedly planning to take a similar step. In October 2024, the live-streaming platform mentioned it had prevented certain users from Israel from joining the platform in the light of the Hamas attack.
In November 2024, the streaming platform faced backlash over its handling of Pro-Palestinian streamer Hasan Piker, who was accused of anti-Semitism but not banned from the platform.
Hasan sparked outrage by sharing a video featuring Yemeni Houthi militants, prompting criticism from figures like U.S. House member Ritchie Torres, who urged Twitch and its CEO Dan Clancy to address the issue.
Online forums linked to former commentator Steven “Destiny” Bonnell have reportedly amplified pressure on Hasan Piker. Bonnell, banned in 2022 for controversial comments, has repeatedly criticized Piker, including his stance on Israel. While Bonnell claimed limited involvement, his followers have made Piker a focal point in debates about antisemitism on the platform.
Torres specifically highlighted Hasan’s stream while condemning the platform for amplifying such content. Around the same time, reports emerged that advertisers were pulling back from Twitch due to growing concerns over anti-Semitism.
Additionally, streamer Dan Saltman criticized the platform for its perceived complicity in these controversies during his broadcasts, which gained significant attention before leading to his ban for extreme harassment.
Twitch has reportedly asked streamers to label their political content
The streaming platform has reportedly mandated political streamers to label their content as “Politics and sensitive social issues” since November 2024 to give sponsors more control over ad placement. Moreover, Twitch has also prohibited using the term "Zionism" to demean individuals based on their background or beliefs.
The Anti-Defamation League, an advisory board of the streaming platform, gave the platform a “B” rating for combating hate, the highest among social media platforms.
A spokesperson from the company emphasized the platform’s zero-tolerance policy for antisemitism and noted that its guidelines apply universally while helping advertisers better manage their placements. Although the three companies had declined to comment on the scenario, Chevron released a statement in which they said,
“Derogatory comments made by panelists in one session at the TwitchCon event were deeply hurtful and not aligned with our company’s beliefs.”
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During that session, the streamers ranked others based on perceived Arab-friendliness, with the phrase "loves Sabra,” being the lowest rank. Chevron, a sponsor, criticized the event organizers for allowing divisive rhetoric, while Twitch temporarily suspended the panelists.
Meanwhile, forums and chat rooms, including those linked to Steven Bonnell and Dan Saltman, coordinated campaigns targeting the streaming company's advertisers. Saltman, banned from the platform in November 2024 for harassment, led a mass email campaign to sponsors and cohosted a podcast with Bonnell.
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