On October 24, 2025, an incident at TwitchCon in San Diego cast a harsh spotlight on streamer safety and the responsibilities of major platforms to protect their talent. Emily Beth "Emiru" Schunk, a popular streamer with millions of followers, was assaulted during a scheduled meet-and-greet. The event, which was meant to connect fans and creators in a celebratory atmosphere, instead became a flashpoint for debate about security, accountability, and trust within the streaming community.
According to reporting from Slate and Hindustan Times, the incident unfolded quickly but left a lasting impact. Video footage posted by Emiru on X (formerly Twitter) shows a man pushing through the crowd, grabbing her, and attempting to kiss her neck. Emiru’s own private security intervened, leading her away from the scene, while TwitchCon staff appeared unresponsive in the immediate aftermath. Emiru later described the ordeal as "hurtful" and "upsetting," questioning how such a breach could occur given the extensive security presence at the convention.
In her posts, Emiru asserted, “None of the TwitchCon staff came to ask what happened or if I was okay.” She went on to contest Twitch's initial statement that the assailant was "immediately detained," calling it a "blatant lie." According to Emiru, the individual was allowed to leave and was only apprehended hours later—a claim that was corroborated by multiple outlets, including The Tribune and esports.gg. She attributed any eventual action more to her manager’s persistence than to Twitch’s on-site response.
The fallout was swift and severe. Fans, creators, and industry observers criticized Twitch’s handling of the situation, with many calling for CEO Dan Clancy to step down. Prominent streamers such as Valkyrae, Hasan, QTCinderella, and Asmongold had already dropped out of TwitchCon 2025, citing concerns about lax security. The incident with Emiru only deepened those concerns and revived longstanding debates about safety at large-scale fan conventions.
Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch, released an official statement on October 25, 2025, acknowledging the platform’s failures. “First, I want to be upfront and take accountability for the security incident that occurred during Emiru’s Meet and Greet. It shouldn’t have happened and we take that very seriously. We failed, both in allowing it to occur, and in our response following. We mismanaged our communications about the incident, and that includes the comments I made. I apologize to Emiru for all that took place,” Clancy wrote in a message posted to X.
Clancy’s statement promised a complete review and analysis of event security, including signups, venue layouts, and staff procedures. He pledged that Twitch would inform the community about any updates affecting future events, though he stopped short of detailing immediate, concrete actions. “While we won’t be sharing all security updates for privacy and safety reasons, we will keep our community informed about changes that directly impact attendees,” Clancy explained. He also addressed concerns about IRL (in-real-life) streaming at conventions and promised a review of accessibility for all participants.
Despite these assurances, the Twitch community was largely unimpressed. Many criticized Clancy’s statement as a "nothing burger," lacking in substance and urgency. As esports.gg reported, streamers and fans alike denounced the absence of direct action and accused the company of failing to learn from years of warnings about event safety. Content creator Kenneth Charles "CinnamonToastKen" Morrison mocked the response, summarizing the sentiment: "'We realized our event was trash after the fact even though our community has been telling us for years, but maybe we’ll think about it some and fix it, idk.'"
Emiru herself announced that she would not attend TwitchCon again, urging other creators to reconsider their participation. She recounted another incident at a different event where a security guard—previously trusted by her—was reportedly banned for restraining a stalker, underscoring what she described as inconsistent and ineffective standards for protective action. “I am a lot more hurt and upset by how Twitch handled it during and after the fact,” Emiru stated, echoing the frustration of many in the community.
The incident also exposed broader issues at TwitchCon 2025. Multiple VTubers, including Ironmouse, Henya the Genius, KuroK9, and Phoebe Chan, reported that gifts meant for them were thrown away by staff and never reached their intended recipients. As of October 25, 2025, this situation remained unaddressed by Twitch staff, further fueling criticism of the event’s organization and priorities.
Industry experts point out that the problems at TwitchCon are emblematic of wider challenges facing fan conventions. Best practices—such as layered security, trained spotters, and clear lines of communication—are often inconsistently implemented. The International Association of Venue Managers recommends a preemptive approach to crowd management, especially in high-risk zones like meet-and-greets. Yet, as the events at TwitchCon 2025 revealed, policy does not always translate into effective action on the ground.
Statistics from the Anti-Defamation League highlight the risks: over three-quarters of people who play games online report being harassed, with women and LGBTQ+ players disproportionately affected. The Pew Research Center has found that around four-in-ten U.S. adults have experienced online harassment, and for creators, these dangers can spill over into real-life encounters at public events.
As the streaming industry continues to grow, the stakes for creator safety only rise. For many, Twitch’s response to the Emiru incident will serve as a litmus test for the platform’s commitment to its community. Clancy’s words—"You put a lot of trust in us by attending TwitchCon, and we take our responsibility to keep you safe seriously"—will be measured against future actions, not just promises.
For now, the question remains whether Twitch can rebuild trust with its creators and fans. The next TwitchCon, and the measures implemented before then, will reveal whether lessons have truly been learned—or if the cycle of disappointment will continue.
