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Twitch streamer Imane "Pokimane's" stance on Kick, the Stake-backed streaming platform, is quite clear at this point. The 28-year-old has previously expressed her criticism towards Kick, mostly due to the platform being backed by an online gambling website. Her anti-gambling stance dates back to September 2022 when she, along with other creators, ran an online campaign urging Twitch to boot out 'gamba-content.'
Kick was essentially born (October 2022) out of Twitch banning Slot and Roulette games by Stake on their platform. Despite Kick signing major names, Pokimane is one of the streamers who has stayed true to her stance. This article will explore the various times she condemned the streaming platform.
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Exploring Twitch streamer Pokimane's stance against Kick
Pokimane is evidently not a fan of Kick.com, the streaming platform backed by Stake. After Stake could no longer operate on Twitch, they launched their own platform. Notably, Twitch streamer Felix "xQc" joined Kick, fueling a war of words between him and Pokimane.
During a stream in June 2023, Pokimane mocked Kick for using Interactive Video Service (IVS), which is Amazon's cloud-based service used to distribute content:
"(Reading a chat) 'Keep doubting Kick. It is already taking over. Fire emoji.' Respectfully, people that say stuff like this, you don't understand that Kick makes Twitch money. Like, Kick is using Twitch's services....If Twitch really wanted, they could just stop giving these services to Kick. Right now, they're sitting back like, 'Thanks, I guess'."
This wasn't the sole instance of Pokimane criticizing Kick. Responding to a chat, she once stated she wouldn't join the platform even if she were to be given $10 million:
"Nope! No. It's not because I got, like, $10 million. It's just because... I'm good as I am. Why would I compromise my morals and ethics for more money when I have money?"
Pokimane reacts to a former Kick employee making an exposé video on the platform
In June 2024, a former Kick employee named Melissa "ItsMelissaDude," released a YouTube video leveling a series of allegations against the platform and its alleged "hostile" office culture.
One of the claims included that Kick intentionally made a lowball offer to Twitch streamer Kyedae, believing she would accept it due to her ongoing battle with cancer. Pokimane reacted to these allegations, labeling the platform as "evil":
"I would believe someone wants to leave Kick. I also don't feel like they are booming right now. I think maybe when they first launched and or the first few months, you might say that, but I don't really think that's the consensus currently."
(Timestamp: 11:39)
Pokimane recently reacted to a video by YouTuber SomethingABoutChickens, who called out Kick streamer Tomer Lawton for creating suggestive content involving minors:
"I guess he does this but he does it live and of course, you wouldn't be able to do it on any live streaming platform except f**king Kick and legit will ask people to flash him and streams all of that live. That's insane."
(Timestamp: 04:10)
Despite the ongoing criticism of Kick, Ed Craven, CEO of Stake.com, expressed an interest in working with Pokimane back in June 2023. As expected, Pokimane was not particularly enthusiastic about the idea.
