Deadmau5 Banned From Twitch for Homophobic Slurs, Slams Platform, Then Apologizes (Updated)
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An update to this story about deadmau5 getting banned from Twitch appears below.
Canadian DJ Joel Zimmerman, better known as deadmau5, has officially been banned from Twitch for using homophobic slurs. Following the ban, he took to Reddit to slam the video game live streaming platform for censoring him.
The site, which focuses primarily on video game live streaming but also broadcasts eSports competitions and music, just last week announced an update to its existing anti-harassment and hateful content policies. According to the platform, hateful conduct results in immediate indefinite suspension.
“Hate simply has no place in the Twitch community,” says the company’s announcement.
But DJ deadmau5 — who also produced EDM music — breached that policy when he used a homophobic slur against a fellow player. They were reportedly streaming the game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, a first-person shooter game, over the weekend.
Polygon reports that during the stream deadmau5 said, “Is that some fucking cock-sucking stream sniper,” also using a homophobic slur which we assume to be “faggot.”
After deadmau5 was indefinitely banned from Twitch, he took to Reddit to vent to anyone who would listen, slamming the platform for “censoring and suspending me for harmless shit.” He also vowed to discontinue his use of the platform going forward and seemed largely unrepentant.
That Reddit post — along with the clip of deadmau5 using the homophobic slurs — have since been deleted.
While deadmau5 admits in the Reddit post that what he said was “generally toxic as fuck,” he says it’s also “not an ideology i hold closely to my moral standing bya fuckin longshot.” He also refuses to apologize, saying, “If im sorry for antying, im sorry that we live in a world where bottom feeding pieces of shit can sit there starring at a monitor, watching me play videos games, and just waiting for someone to get tilted so he can get a few fucking clicks. thats what i’m sorry for.”
The DJ also took the opportunity to rail against the journalist who first reported the story, calling him “some bottom feeding piece of shit from colorodo [sic] who decided to make it news”
Read deadmau5’s full Reddit post after being banned from Twitch here:
Twitch has banned @deadmau5 for 'hate speech' for using a homophobic slur against a stream sniper in PUBG.
In a response on Reddit, deadmau5 says he will likely no longer partner with or stream on Twitch due to the platform's double standards on censorship and suspensions. pic.twitter.com/fRI9ogF64j
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) February 13, 2019
UPDATE, 5:31 p.m. PST, Feb. 14: This morning, on his Reddit page, deadmau5 issued a legitimate apology concerning what took place on Twitch and the initial statement he released. Here’s his apology in full:
“Damage control” had asked me not to make a statement. But, I would rather you hear it from me, in my own words. you deserve that.
I needed a little cool down there for a few and seriously reflect on all this. I know what I said was wrong, and my hastily composed non-apology was an insult to injury. I realize that trying to somewhat dismiss it as “gamer culture” was even worse. I don’t know why I did that. But I do know it was stupid and insensitive and I feel even more ashamed. This was my worst moment.
As for twitch, they had every right to ban me for that, it was clearly in violation on their terms, even if it wasn’t … it was all around an incredibly irresponsible and insensitive thing to say nonetheless. Especially for someone who has a reach. What I said was incredibly stupid, and I don’t actually hold those beliefs, at all. I let some gamer get the best of me, and in that moment I completely lost control. And me lashing back with some knee-jerk post about how it may have seemed unjustified … was completely unfair to twitch and its viewers. So I apologize for that as well.
As for my fans, family and friends, and everyone else in my life that I’ve disappointed once again, I’m sorry. I feel like I’m trying to become a better person, but that’s a long and difficult road at times and sometimes … well, sometimes I just fuck up. I do mean well. And I’m at least man enough to know when I’ve fucked up. And I’ve fucked up.
Apologies once again to everyone I’ve disappointed. I would love nothing more than to finally be at peace with myself and be the best human being I can be, trust me. Being “mr. I don’t give a fuck” is not someone I ever aspired to be.
So I’ll keep things even more quiet until I can learn to be the person.
Going to focus on cubes and music.
