Twitch streamer HasanAbi's interviews with incarcerated firefighters talking about their plight during LA wildfires go viral

Twitch streamer and political commentator Hasan "HasanAbi" recently interviewed incarcerated individuals who were providing firefighting services in light of the recent wildfires that have been ravaging Los Angeles and other parts of California. Reportedly, nearly a thousand incarcerated men and women have been joining efforts to curb the fire, which has caused over eleven deaths so far.

While interviewing the incarcerated firefighters as part of his broadcast on Twitch on January 12, 2025, HasanAbi asked one of them about the pay they receive for their duties:

"What's the pay though? It's still pretty low, right?"

The interviewee responded:

"Yeah, it's still low, it's low. I think I get 180 bucks a month."

Another interviewer accompanying HasanAbi asked if the pay was raised during times of crisis like the current LA wildfires. The interviewee responded:

"No, we don't get no extra during no crisis. Not for us. Maybe the free firefighters, but... there is supposed to be a pay increase in the future. We're supposed to get $5 an hour, that's still low for people on the street, but for us... we'll be doing really well."

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HasanAbi interviews incarcerated firefighters amid efforts to curb ongoing wildfires in LA

HasanAbi is a popular left-wing political commentator who often hosts livestreams discussing current affairs and news. He is known for being outspoken about his views, having even stirred trouble for himself and the Amazon-owned platform in the past after being accused of harboring anti-Semitic views by US politician Ritchie Torres last year.

Now, HasanAbi, who has a residence in LA, also talked about the number of hours that incarcerated firefighters have to work during his interview:

"Yeah, you're doing crazy work! You're out here, you said twenty four hours in, twenty four hours out right? And sometimes they do twelve hours and twelve off."

Upon being asked by HasanAbi if he liked his job as a firefighter and if he thought it was better than being in prison, the interviewee responded:

"It's way better 'cause I was at my prison yard, I'm seeing guys getting stabbed, get jumped, get beat up, the cops treat us like sh**. But here, we get better treatment, right? They talk to us like humans... We're underpaid, but we got a job. You feel me? And then, the community comes out and shows us all kinds of love. We never received that growing up, never received that kind of love, that kind of recognition for anything we've done."

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HasanAbi also recently addressed allegations of misogyny that had been made against him by TikToker @sistaseparatist. In a TikTok video, she talked of the Turkish-American streamer's "downfall" and accused him of contributing to a "misogynistic social climate" by "mocking" Amber Heard and Blake Lively's testimony.