Twitch‘s ban of Dr. Disrespect quite some time ago was a jaw-dropping development. The world of streaming had already been undergoing a major shift in the closure of Mixer, and suddenly, the self-described “face of Twitch” was gone. The days and weeks after were likely as torturous for him as it was his fanbase, especially after rumors online became increasingly malicious.
These rumors included, but are not limited to, the Doc working on creating his on streaming service with Ninja and Shroud, the Doc committing fraud of some level, and/or the Doc doing something directly illegal, especially due to its proximity to several sexual assault and harassment claims made on Twitch. The weeks that followed led to one nasty rumor after another because everyone wanted one question answered: why was Dr. Disrespect banned from Twitch?
It took time, but when he was ready, he returned to streaming on YouTube. Dr. Disrespect‘s return to the public light drew a ton of questions as to why he was banned. But by this time, the immediate vitriol of an internet backlash has come to an end. The only thing that was certain was that the rumors were completely off base. If Dr. Disrespect had committed a serious crime, he would not be on YouTube. If he were working with Ninja and Shroud on Brime, they would not be on Twitch.
Although the Doc has stated he has no idea why he was banned, he has expressed how the ban affected him. In a manner not unlike those who were hit hard by the Mixer shutdown, Doc had his livelihood taken away. Truthfully, it doesn’t matter if he could survive without it—what the doc has made clear, time and again, is that he loves his community. One only need to see his reaction to a fan contemplating suicide, to see the man behind Dr. Disrespect break character and emerge so quickly, to see him reach deep for the right words and the right advice, to know that his streams are his home.
Disrespect has opened up about the anxiety caused by his Twitch ban, and he has given fans little reason to doubt his words. What, and if, he knows more about he likely cannot share due to the fallout of his ban.
That doesn’t mean fans cannot connect the dots or try to make educated guessed opposed to blind criticism. Recently, Dr. Disrespect made a revealing comment in a recent stream about why he was having to be silent due to the legal processes he was part of, creating a unique metaphor in doing so. In answer to someone named Master Chief, he responds telling him to imagine the Navy just got rid of him on the verge of a promotion and replacing him with three other cadets. These three new cadets would come at less cost or offset the cost with more soldiers, rather than the one with true experience.
Breaking down this metaphor makes sense: Twitch was responding to the influx of Mixer streamers. Some of these streamers would require massive contracts, but the monetary values would be offset by other factors. In other words, the money Dr. Disrespect made was likely deemed too much to deal with when there was “three new cadets” coming in, who could also be paid a solid penny and produce more…at the singular cost of less.
The other implication is that the “Master Chief” of Twitch here, Dr. Disrespect, did nothing wrong. But the internet did not see it that way, and there was a lot of mudslinging in the weeks that followed by people online. The simple truth is: the internet made itself the inquisitors of Dr. Disrespect, but cared less about the man who cared for so many than they did the new influx of Twitch drama.
It remains to be seen what’s next. Eventually, the Doc may be able to speak more freely once the legal issues are resolved, the full story may one day become available, and those who were convinced of his guilt will have forgotten the slanderous words they’ve spoken. Indeed, Twitch owes the truth to everyone for his ban—it is Twitch’s burden of proof, not the Doc’s. It’s even possible that this metaphor analysis is off-base, that Doc is neglecting something, or that some other factor has yet to become public. The simple truth is, despite initial claims to the contrary, no one knows.
However, until the truth is made public, the Doc is entitled to the belief of “innocent until proven guilty.” He was denied that in the internet storm that immediately followed, but it’s clear he’s moving forward with some legal process, and that answers—whatever they may be—are dependent upon the outcome. While this controversy has softened and many may not be as invested now, it’s a matter of justice that this controversy doesn’t die, that people do not stop asking, “why was Dr. Disrespect banned?”
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