The world of online streaming was rocked on October 25, 2025, when Emily Beth Schunk—better known to millions as Emiru—took to Twitch to level a barrage of grave allegations against her ex-boyfriend and fellow streamer, Matthew "Mizkif" Rinaudo. The accusations, which included sexual assault, psychological abuse, stalking, harassment, and blackmail threats, set off a firestorm across Twitch, X, and Reddit, pulling the entire digital creator community into a heated and highly public discussion about safety, accountability, and the dark side of internet fame.
Emiru’s livestream, which drew hundreds of thousands of viewers in real time and millions more in the aftermath, was both emotional and explicit. "Today I’m finally going to be opening up about the psychological and domestic abuse, stalking and harassment, sexual assault, and threats of blackmail that Mizkif has done towards me and some of these issues which are still ongoing," Emiru stated, according to Hindustan Times. She explained that she had "avoided talking about this all year" but felt compelled to speak out after "new incidents" reportedly occurred, including a personal safety scare at TwitchCon 2025 in San Diego, where she was assaulted by a fan during a meet-and-greet.
Among the most serious allegations was Emiru’s account of an incident where Mizkif allegedly forced himself on her during a moment of emotional vulnerability. She described, "We hadn’t talked in a while… he started kissing me, and I let him. Suddenly, he tried to climb on top of me. I screamed, and he jumped off. He said, 'I feel weird now, like I did something wrong,' and then immediately left without checking if I was okay." Emiru said she was still making excuses for his behavior at the time, fearing the fallout within their shared social circle.
Emiru’s accusations didn’t stop at physical assault. She claimed Mizkif used indirect threats to control her, warning mutual friends that he would "create a smear campaign" if she ever spoke out, and allegedly tried to recruit other streamers to join in such efforts—though, she noted, they refused. She further alleged that Mizkif intended to blame her for the deaths of her pet rabbits, which occurred while they lived together, and that he continued to harass her with persistent messages after their breakup, seeking to rekindle their relationship.
Perhaps most chillingly, Emiru recounted a recent incident at TwitchCon 2025, where Mizkif allegedly approached one of her employees and threatened them about discussing their past. "At TwitchCon, he approached one of my employees, threatening them and saying if I ever talked about him, he would destroy me," she told viewers, as reported by Hindustan Times and Dexerto. The combination of these events, Emiru said, finally pushed her to come forward for her own safety. She has since initiated the process of obtaining restraining orders against Mizkif in both Texas and California, citing ongoing harassment and intimidation through intermediaries.
The fallout from Emiru’s revelations was immediate and intense. The streaming community erupted, with some creators rallying behind Emiru and others expressing skepticism or concern about the toxic dynamics on display. Advocacy groups and prominent streamers called for Twitch to investigate the allegations and reconsider Mizkif’s platform status, while fans flooded social media with messages of support, outrage, and—sometimes—confusion. The situation was further inflamed by the fact that Emiru had been assaulted by a fan at TwitchCon just days earlier, an incident she claimed Twitch mishandled. According to Emiru, contrary to the platform’s public statement that the assailant was "immediately detained," real action was only taken "after hours of pressure" from her management team.
Mizkif, for his part, responded quickly—going live on Twitch just hours after Emiru’s broadcast to give his side of the story. He acknowledged the relationship was "toxic from both sides," admitting to yelling, emotional breakdowns, and violent outbursts, including "punching holes in the walls" and "slamming doors in aggression." He also confessed to jealousy over Emiru’s rising popularity, saying he had become "obsessed with numbers" and that it "ruined my life." But Mizkif strongly denied any criminal behavior, including sexual assault, and claimed that Emiru was also aggressive—throwing clothes and plushies at him during arguments. "I’m ashamed that the situations got so bad, but Emmy was also violent," he said, as reported by Hindustan Times.
The emotional volatility, according to Mizkif, extended to threats of self-harm from both sides. "I one time did say I was going to kill myself during an argument, but Emmy did this as well numerous times," he told his viewers. He further alleged that Emiru once wrote a letter expressing a wish to marry him and have children within five years, but that he wasn’t ready for such a commitment. Ultimately, he said, their trust "had completely died," and the relationship was "beyond the point of toxicity."
In a controversial moment during his response stream, Mizkif appeared to threaten other streamers, claiming he possessed "hundreds of messages" that could expose private information about people in the industry. "I will be releasing them as time goes on, because who cares?" he warned, according to Dexerto. This statement only added fuel to the fire, as many interpreted it as an attempt to intimidate others into silence.
The shockwaves from Emiru’s allegations have not been limited to the two streamers at the center of the storm. Other creators have come forward with their own stories about Mizkif, including streamer Triciaisabirdy, who accused him of inappropriate physical contact at a TwitchCon after-party. On social media, users like Akuma Miko alleged that Mizkif "slut shamed" Emiru on stream, further painting a picture of a hostile environment for women in the industry.
This is not the first time Mizkif has faced controversy. In 2022, he was temporarily suspended by the gaming organization One True King (OTK) after being accused of helping to cover up a sexual assault involving another streamer. A third-party law firm later cleared him of direct involvement, and he was reinstated. As of now, OTK has yet to comment on the current situation, and Mizkif has not issued a formal statement beyond his livestream.
With Emiru moving forward with legal action and the community demanding a response from Twitch, the story is still unfolding. What’s clear is that the allegations have forced a reckoning within the streaming world, shining a harsh light on the personal and professional boundaries that can blur in such high-pressure, hyper-public environments. As the legal process begins and more voices emerge, the industry—and its millions of fans—are left to grapple with uncomfortable questions about power, accountability, and the true cost of internet celebrity.
