Guy Beahm, the popular streamer better known as Dr Disrespect, has released a lengthy statement regarding the recent allegations surrounding his 2020 Twitch ban.
It’s the most extensive response Beahm has ever given to the situation, which reignited last week after a former Twitch employee said on X/Twitter that he was banned from the streaming platform for inappropriate posts involving a minor via the Twitch Whispers feature. The claim was confirmed in reports by The Verge and Bloomberg. Beahm’s response addresses this claim as well as his recent exit from the game studio he co-founded, Midnight Society.
SCREEN BAN
Hello just wanted to make a quick comment..
Let’s cut the bullshit because you know I have no filter. I’ve always been straight with you on anything I can be in front of me and I’m always willing to take responsibility… which… – Dr Disrespect (@DrDisrespect) June 25, 2024
In his statement, Beahm acknowledges that there were indeed “Twitch Whispers messages involving a minor” in 2017. (The word “minor” was originally removed from the post, but later added back).
“Were there real intentions behind these messages? The answer is absolutely no,” he adds. “These were casual, mutual conversations that sometimes veered too far into inappropriateness, but nothing more.”
He continues that no charges have been filed and reiterates that “nothing illegal has happened.”
“From a moral point of view, I definitely take responsibility,” he says. “I never should have had these conversations. It’s my fault. It’s my fault as an adult, a husband and a father. It should never have happened. I get it. I’m not perfect and I take responsibility. This was stupid.”
However, Beahm insists that he is not a “predator or a pedophile” and that despite the previously announced “extended leave”, he apparently intends to continue streaming.
“They want me to disappear…yeah, not very well,” he concludes.
IGN has reached out to Twitch for a response, but Twitch has not responded over the past few days.
As for his departure from Midnight Society, Beahm says the decision to leave was something he and the team decided “together.” Shortly after Beahm released his statement, studio founder Robert Bowling issued his own personal statement on X/Twitter, indicating that it had not gone through any PR or legal departments.
“If you send inappropriate messages to a minor, I cannot work with you,” Bowling wrote. “Look. I promised to act only on the facts, and that’s what I’ve done.”
This is a statement from me personally. It does not reflect any of my business and has not passed any legal or PR approvals.
If you inappropriately send a message to a minor. I can’t work with you.
Season.
I promised to act only on the facts, and I did. – Robert Bowling (@fourzerotwo) June 25, 2024
You can read the full statement below:
Thumbnail credit: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
Nick is one of the Content Directors at IGN Benelux. When he’s not making TikToks, he’s probably playing World of Warcraft or watching One Piece. Follow him here Twitter.