Twitch has acknowledged its failures following a distressing incident where popular streamer Emiru was assaulted at TwitchCon. The company admitted shortcomings in both preventing the assault and their subsequent handling of the situation.
The incident occurred at TwitchCon 2025 in the San Diego Convention Center, where a man breached multiple security barriers to forcibly grab and kiss Emiru, whose real name is Emily-Beth Schunk, during a meet and greet. A viral video of the assault quickly circulated, leading to widespread condemnation. In the wake of the event, Emiru has strongly advised other content creators to carefully consider their attendance at future TwitchCon events, confirming that she is pressing charges against the assailant.
Emiru expressed profound disappointment, not only at the ease with which her assailant reached her despite security, but also at Twitch’s lack of immediate support after the incident. She publicly challenged Twitch’s initial statement claiming prompt intervention and removal of the attacker, labeling it a “blatant lie.”
Initially, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy responded by suggesting the challenge was a broader societal issue. However, he later released a statement via Twitch’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, taking accountability and admitting the company “failed” in both the incident’s occurrence and their subsequent response. Clancy apologized for mismanaged communications, including his own initial comments, and extended an apology directly to Emiru for the ordeal. He also announced a comprehensive review of event safety and security, promising to examine everything from meet and greet sign-up procedures to venue layout and security enhancements.
Despite this public apology, Emiru’s subsequent livestream revealed more concerning details. She stated that Twitch had not contacted her privately to apologize, and that their public statement was released without her consultation. More critically, Emiru exposed significant issues with Twitch’s cooperation with law enforcement. She explained that on the Monday after the convention, San Diego police informed her they could not proceed with charges because Twitch was reportedly withholding the assailant’s name, allegedly out of fear of being sued by the perpetrator for sharing his identity with authorities.
This delay allowed the assailant to travel a considerable distance from San Diego. Emiru’s manager had to relentlessly push Twitch to release the individual’s name, especially after receiving a tip that someone matching the suspect’s description had boasted about causing a “stir at TwitchCon” while traveling to Texas. While Twitch eventually provided the name to the police, the investigation faced significant hurdles due to these initial delays and the company’s reluctance to cooperate fully.
Emiru publicly thanked her manager for their unwavering support and for arranging additional security, noting that Twitch offered no such assistance. She voiced her hope for a public resolution, emphasizing that the incident is not just about her, but about protecting all streamers, especially those who may not have her resources or platform. “It’s very scary and just very, very frustrating,” Emiru stated, determined not to let the incident be “swept under the rug.”
Concluding her statement, Emiru announced her decision to no longer attend TwitchCon and likely other convention streams. “I feel like it’s just time, you know, and I think that’s probably true for a lot of streamers,” she shared, reflecting on the unexpected and challenging turn of events.