Twitch removed the popular emoticon PogChamp from the streaming platform, following the comments made by the emoticon star about the violent riots in the US Chapter last night. The announcement came just hours after PogChamp, the personality of the fighting game Ryan “Gootecks” Gutierrez, made inflammatory remarks about riots on social networks, “encouraging further violence.”
“We cannot, with good conscience, continue to allow the use of the image,” Twitch said.
Last night, the US Chapter was violently assaulted by Trump supporters, driven by the president’s unfounded claims of electoral fraud. Guitierrez called for “civil unrest” for one of the rioters who was shot and killed inside the Capitol building, encouraging followers to watch a “terrible” video of her death.
“We have made the decision to remove the PogChamp emote following statements on the face of the emote, encouraging further violence after it took place today in the Chapter,” Announce Twitch.
PogChamp was a picture of Gutierrez’s face in a kind of shocked expression and was one of the most popular emotions on Twitch. The phrases that emerged from it, “pog” and “poggers”, became not only a huge part of Twitch culture, but also of gaming culture in general.
“We want Pog’s feeling and use to live on,” Twitch added. “Its meaning is much greater than the person described or the image itself – and it has an important place in the Twitch culture. However, we cannot continue, with a good conscience, to allow the use of the image. “
Twitch said they will work with the community “to project a new emotion for the most hype moments on Twitch.” Their Twitter thread it is already full of large and small streamers, both suggestive.