Keemstar Clashes With Pokimane on Twitter Over Fan Abuse
Once again, YouTuber Daniel "Keemstar" Keem has become part of the news he's supposed to be reporting. On Thursday night, Keem posted his fourth annual YouTube Halloween costume video on his DramaAlert channel, judging content creators' outfits. One of the YouTubers featured, Alia Lia "Sssniperwolf" Shelesh, was dressed as a Fortnite character, but Keem saw the opportunity for an easy joke. "Sssniperwolf (is) dressed up as a girl who Photoshops her Instagram pictures," he says in the video.
Fans of Shelesh flocked into Keem's mentions, including one viewer named Luke, who asked, "why you always hating on Lia?" Going through Luke's account, Keem noticed that his pinned tweet was a happy birthday message to Shelesh calling her his "favorite YouTuber." Seeing a target, Keem screenshots both of Luke's tweets, posting it with the comment "Alexa, what is a virgin?" Soon after, Alex put his Twitter account on private and changed his Twitter avatar to black.
Some on Twitter took offense to Keem sharing these tweets to 2.5 million subscribers, worrying that the sudden, massive attention could cause Alex hardship. In response to one fan who asked "what if he actually takes his life?" Keem tweeted "that would be really sad. Who would want to die a virgin, not me." Content creators rallied to Alex's side, including Twitch streamer Imane "Pokimane" Anys, who agreed Keem shouldn't use his platform to direct hate at what she called "innocent fans."
it's fine to dislike another content creator, but you probs shouldn't hate on innocent fans. realize you have an audience that will also attack them, and most people aren't used to receiving hate like that. do better, keem 🙄 FYI joking about a fan suiciding isn't cute either smh
— pokimane (@pokimanelol) November 2, 2018
Keem deleted the tweets insulting Alex, but then posted a series of videos, switching his target to Anys. "This overreaction thing is a bad look for you," Keem says in a Twitter video. "Makes me think you aren't legitimate or a real person." Anys posted a video response, saying that content creators shouldn't use their platforms to attack other's fans. Keem clapped back, calling her fake and a fraud again. Anys responded one last time in a tweet, calling his attacks "cheap shots for Twitter likes."
ah resorting to cheap shots for easy twitter likes, a classic grown man’s move. I’ll just end by saying that the fact you deleted your tweets is enough proof that even you think what you did was messed up (or you can’t even stand by your own opinion lol). 👋🏻
— pokimane (@pokimanelol) November 2, 2018
Over the past few hours, Keem has been combing through Anys' Twitter, posting screenshots of her Twitter from 2015 using controversial language.
Are you a homophone @pokimanelol ? I mean I would think I were joking here. But since JOKES are “Attacks” I think you might hate gay people. Idk pic.twitter.com/KzqY9zboqg
— KEEM 🍿 (@KEEMSTAR) November 2, 2018
This isn't the first time Keem has used his platform to attack. In 2016, Keem reported on DramaAlert that Twitch streamer RSGloryandGold was convicted pedophile John Phillips. The streamer was not the same man; he was just a 62-year-old who wanted to play Runescape and stream. Keem's fans sent death threats and abuse, causing him to break down in tears on stream. Keem later apologized and RSGloryandGold held no grudges.
