Gonzalo “ZeRo”Returns to Twitch: A Look at His Journey

On March 12, 2025, former Super Smash Bros player Gonzalo “ZeRo”received significant news: his indefinite ban from Twitch was lifted nearly five years after it had been imposed on July 23, 2020. This suspension had come amid serious allegations of sexual misconduct against the esports figure, who had openly acknowledged sending explicit messages to minors but contended he was unaware of their age.

Following these admissions, major organizations such as Tempo Storm, Facebook Gaming, and Twitch distanced themselves from ZeRo, ultimately resulting in his retirement from the competitive scene. Despite his earlier confession, the former esports champion later retracted his statements. Reports surfaced in 2021 indicating that ZeRo had struggled with severe mental health issues, including an alleged suicide attempt that required hospitalization.

Legal Battles and Public Claims

In 2021, ZeRo initiated a lawsuit against his former roommate, Jisu, alleging that her accusations were defamatory and contributed to the downfall of his career in Super Smash Bros. His legal representatives claimed that her assertions—including claims that he had made inappropriate offers involving a minor—were entirely false.

Appealing the Ban and Seeking Redemption

By 2022, after resolving the lawsuit, ZeRo took steps to appeal Twitch’s ban, stating in a video that Jisu had retracted her allegations. He also called on his supporters to help advocate for his unbanning. In his own words, he expressed:

“I will also be formally appealing my ban to Twitch. They actually indefinitely banned me from the events of 2020. They never really gave me a chance to defend myself and I feel like I should not be banned anymore. As a matter of fact, I will appreciate you guys supporting me in the matter, either supporting the cause for me to get unbanned, or if anybody knows anybody that I should talk to that I can present a well-appealed case to, I’m all ears.”

After nearly three years of waiting since his appeal, Twitch ultimately decided to lift ZeRo’s ban. In celebration of this momentous occasion, ZeRo shared images showcasing his incredible physical transformation following his departure from the competitive Smash Bros scene.

New Beginnings: Gym Streams and Future Plans

ZeRo announced his plans to shift his streaming focus, revealing his intention to launch bodybuilding gym streams on Twitch. He shared:

“Here’s a recent pic and a pic with legendary Olympia champions Jay Cutler & Ronnie Coleman. I wanna do bodybuilding gym streams and show my grind to go pro in the sport let’s get it.”

As he embarks on this new journey, it remains uncertain whether ZeRo will continue to create content on YouTube, where he has been active since his Twitch suspension in 2020.

For a deeper dive into ZeRo’s story and the circumstances surrounding his Twitch ban, you can read more here.