Darren “IShowSpeed”is a prominent figure in the realm of gaming and streaming, boasting a staggering 38.4 million subscribers on YouTube. His content, which primarily features travel and gaming, has captured the interest of fans worldwide, including notable government officials. However, his rise to fame has not been without its hurdles; Darren has encountered numerous controversies that have marred his reputation.
Throughout his streaming career, IShowSpeed has faced multiple bans from platforms such as Twitch and YouTube, alongside critiques regarding his behavior, including accusations of toxic conduct and misuse of copyright strikes. Here, we delve into five of the most controversial incidents that IShowSpeed might prefer to forget.
Top 5 Controversial Moments of IShowSpeed
1. Permanent Twitch Ban for Alleged Sexual Coercion
On December 12, 2021, during a live e-dating show hosted by Adin Ross, IShowSpeed made headlines for his troubling remarks directed at TikTok influencer Ashaley “Ash Kash.”When challenged about the possibility of reproduction if they were the last two humans on Earth, he responded aggressively:
“Who’s going to stop me? Who’s going to stop me?! If we the last two people on Earth, who’s going to stop me?! You’re not stopping me! If we’re the last two people on Earth, who’s going to stop me?”
As a result of this incident, Twitch issued a permanent ban on him, citing “sexual coercion and intimidation.”Following the backlash, Darren expressed his regret and commitment to personal development.
2. Valorant Ban Due to Toxic Behavior
In April 2022, during a live Valorant session, IShowSpeed encountered criticism from a female gamer regarding his performance. His response was not well-received:
“What? What, b*tch! Is a b*tch talking to me? Is a female talking to me? Am I tripping? Time out, is a female talking to me? Is a f**king female talking to me? Get off the f**king game and do your husband’s dishes. Shut up! F**k you!”
His offensive remarks led Sara Dadafshar, a Riot Games producer, to permanently ban him from Valorant. IShowSpeed later apologized to his followers, admitting his behavior was unjustifiable.
3. Inappropriate Joke at a Restaurant
On April 23, 2023, during a live date stream at a restaurant, IShowSpeed made an inappropriate “Deez Nuts”joke to a waitress, asking if she would reproduce with him if they were the last two left alive:
“Can I get a… can I get a pair of deez? (Waitress asks him to explain) Deez nuts. Yeah? Oh. Okay, all right. Can I get a… sea of deez? Sea of deez nuts around?”
Despite facing criticism for similar behavior in the past, he recounted this question, prompting backlash without an official response from him.
4. The “IShowMeat” Incident during a Livestream
On August 17, 2023, IShowSpeed was live-streaming a gaming session of Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach when a sudden jump scare caused him to inadvertently expose himself on camera. This moment became infamously known as the “IShowMeat”incident.
Realizing what had happened, he quickly removed the stream, but not before clips had circulated widely across social media. His father humorously responded with a song titled “I Show The Meat,”which surprisingly garnered over 9.8 million views.
5. Allegations of Copyright Strikes Against Smaller Creators
On December 9, 2024, VTuber Kirsche publicly accused IShowSpeed of issuing copyright strikes against smaller content creators, asserting:
“Imagine winning streamer of the year when you copyright claim smaller creators’ videos for reacting to 30s of your content.”
In 2023, popular YouTuber Act Man echoed these sentiments, labeling IShowSpeed a “scammer” in a video, yet there was no official rebuttal from Darren.
In more lighthearted updates, streamer Kai Cenat recently found himself in awe when Rihanna texted him during a live stream, expressing admiration for a viral clip from his show.