Live stream platform Twitch has removed TwitchCop from its emote list. No other emotes were removed at the time.
Twitch is the leading live stream platform for video gamers and the people who love to watch them. Viewers are able to participate in the stream’s chat using text or a variety of little pictures called emotes. These emotes cover a wide array of emotions and images, from a crude smiley face all the way to a pair of hands forming a heart with the asexual pride colors. Emotes are the main way of communicating on Twitch and some are only available through subscribing to certain affiliate and partner streamer channels. The emotes are used either through the emote menu or with a quick case-sensitive keystroke. However, certain emotes have been abused and misused to spread racism across the platform.
This week, Twitch removed the TwitchCop emote, a whistle blowing cop cartoon that was voted into the menu by fans back in 2017. Twitch feared that the TwitchCop would be easily misused in light of recent protests across the world demanding an end to police brutality and justice for the murder of George Floyd. Twitch has had several past issues with racist comments and opinions being voiced through emotes, so taking down TwitchCop was a proactive move on their end. They pulled the animation from the platform without fanfare and have released no statement about it being reinstated anytime soon.
Twitch, along with many other gaming platforms and companies, has pledged its support and solidarity to the movement. It released a support statement on Twitter,, provided a list of resources, and tagged it with #BlackLivesMatter. The live stream platform gave no reason for the emote’s removal but it’s not hard to make the connection.
While it’s admirable for Twitch to take measures against potential abuse at this time, it would have been that much better for them to have stated their intention outright. It can be easily inferred that they did it as a direct result of their support in the fight against racism and police brutality in America, but now is the time for clear intentions and not being silent. With Twitch’s checkered past with racism, it is vital for them to uphold their promises to be and do better for the Black community.
Source: PC Gamer, Twitter
