Pokimane Condemns Kick Over Alleged Unethical Offer to Cancer-Stricken Streamer

Twitch sensation Pokimane expressed her shock and outrage over allegations made by a former Kick employee, labeling the streaming platform as “evil” due to an alleged exploitative offer to a creator battling cancer.

Kick is currently under intense scrutiny after Melissa, a former employee, released a nearly 20-minute video exposing what she described as an “extremely hostile” work environment at the company.

Among Melissa’s most damning claims was that Kick attempted to lowball a streamer suffering from cancer, allegedly reasoning that they could offer her less because “she probably thinks she’s gonna die soon and she’ll want to leave more money for her family.”

These accusations quickly spread across social media, eliciting strong reactions from major online personalities such as xQc. Twitch star Imane ‘Pokimane’ Anys also weighed in, expressing her disbelief and disgust during a June 18 broadcast after watching Melissa’s video.

“That’s not even just weird,” Pokimane remarked, pausing the video to gather her thoughts. “That’s like, evil.”
“I understand why someone would want to leave Kick,” she commented at the start of the video. “I also don’t think they’re ‘booming’ right now. Maybe when they first launched… but that doesn’t seem to be the current perception.”

“What disturbs me the most is that these actions are coming from adults in their twenties, thirties, and forties. You sometimes expect this behavior from kids in video games, but grown men with jobs? It’s just unsettling.”

Speculation arose that the streamer Melissa referred to was Kyedae, who fought Leukemia in 2023. While xQc claimed to have spoken with Kick’s leadership, confirming they did not extend such an offer, Kyedae herself confirmed on June 19 that she had indeed received and subsequently rejected an offer from Kick.

This incident adds to a series of criticisms Pokimane has directed at Kick. She previously criticized the platform when she announced her decision to stay with Twitch earlier this year, debunking rumors of a switch to Kick.

“I would not stream on Kick,” she explained, “because I know that the company is funded by online crypto gambling websites that are illegal in many countries and, in my opinion, are quite shady. I don’t want to bring my audience somewhere they could be exposed to potential gambling addiction.”

Pokimane’s disapproval of Kick is well-documented, and she continues to stand firm in her stance as the latest accusations amplify the backlash against the company online.

• Also read: Kick Executive Addresses Allegations of Workplace Misconduct by Former Employee