Twitch has announced that it is removing the PogChamp emote from it’s platform due to a tweet made by the figure it is based on. Here’s all we know…
I never thought I’d say it… But, PogChamp is dead! Well, it’s at least gone for a semi-permanent, undisclosed amount of time. While the spirit of Poggers lives on in every gamer, the PogChamp emote has rightfully been tainted by the figure it depicts: Ryan ‘ Gootecks’ Gutierrez.
Gootecks was a Street Fighter player who’s ‘ surprised face ‘ became a meme and then the basis for the PogChamp Twitch emote. It’s often used in response to the most surprising, and epic, gameplay moments during Twitch streams.
Following the White Nationalist Terrorism, which was not limited to a physical attack on the U.S. Capitol Building, Gootecks has tweeted the following:
“ Will there be civil unrest for the woman who was executed inside the Capitol today or will the #MAGAMartyr die in vain?”
Gootecks Tweet, Transcribed.
As you can see, there’s having an opinion on a political situation and there’s calling for further civil unrest supporting an intrinsically racist system that supports offensive White Nationalism. It isn’t very poggers, in short.
Twitch made the following statement fairly soon after, with many comments to the tweet also questioning the insensitive nature of his message.
” We want the sentiment and use of Pog to live on – its meaning is much bigger than the person depicted or image itself – and it has a big place in Twitch culture. However, we can’t in good conscience continue to enable the use of the image. We will work with the community to design a new emote for the most hype moments on Twitch.”
Twitch Statement on PogChamp removal
Do you agree with the official decision from Twitch to remove the PogChamp emote? What would you like to see replace it?
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