Twitch CEO Apologizes After Emiru’s Assault Sparks Security Crisis and Mizkif Allegations

TwitchCon 2025 in San Diego—meant to celebrate the global streaming community—spiraled into controversy after the non-consensual assault of popular cosplayer and streamer Emiru (Emily-Beth Schunk) during a meet-and-greet session. The incident, captured on video and shared across social media, showed a man breaching multiple barriers and grabbing Emiru’s face in an attempt to kiss her.

Her personal security guard intervened immediately, pushing the man away, but Twitch’s own event staff failed to act. The assailant was allowed to walk off unescorted while Emiru, visibly shaken, was led away by her manager.

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hello everyone, I am okay and thank you for all of the kind messages, sorry I cannot respond to them all 🩷

Yesterday, the man who assaulted me was allowed to cross multiple barriers at twitchcon and even in front of another creators meet and greet to grab me and my face and try…

— emi ⭐️ (@emiru) October 18, 2025

Emiru later shared a detailed and emotional statement, writing,

“The man who assaulted me was allowed to cross multiple barriers at TwitchCon to grab me and try to kiss me. Fortunately, he wasn’t able to, but Twitch’s response was far more disappointing than the incident itself.”

She added that Twitch’s claim that the man was “caught immediately” was a blatant lie, saying he remained free for hours before being detained.

TwitchCon 2025 and Community Reaction

The incident triggered an outpouring of anger from both fans and creators. Prominent streamers such as Pokimane expressed solidarity with Emiru and called for stricter safety standards for women in gaming and streaming spaces.

Many criticized Twitch for allegedly denying Emiru’s prior requests to bring her personal security team to the event — a decision that now appears reckless given her history with harassment and stalkers.

Saw so many women saying they weren’t going to be attending TwitchCon this year because they don’t feel safe, and then this happens to Emiru on day one pic.twitter.com/Yazc5VBPWF

— shenAndygans (@Sh3nAndygans) October 18, 2025

Worse still, Emiru revealed that Twitch staff failed to offer any immediate support after the assault.

“No one from Twitch staff came up to ask if I was okay,” she said. “I even heard security joking that they didn’t see what happened.”

These accounts have fueled accusations that Twitch prioritized event reputation over creator safety, deepening mistrust among female streamers who have long voiced concerns about stalking and harassment.

Twitch’s Response and CEO Dan Clancy’s Apology

Twitch initially released a statement claiming that law enforcement responded immediately and that the attacker was banned from all Twitch events. However, Emiru disputed this, saying her manager had to pressure Twitch to cooperate with police. She alleged that Twitch refused to provide the assailant’s name to authorities, delaying his capture until an outside tip forced the issue.

Facing mounting backlash, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy admitted the company’s failure in both security and crisis response.

“We failed — both in allowing this incident to occur and in our response afterward,” Clancy said in a statement.
“We mismanaged our communication, and I personally apologize to Emiru for all that took place.”

Clancy pledged a complete review of TwitchCon’s security protocols, promising stricter access control, no “plus-ones” for meet-and-greets, and increased on-site police cooperation.

Immediate and Long-Term Security Reforms

Following the public apology, Twitch has already announced several immediate changes:

• Enhanced security at all check-in points
• Removal of “plus-one” privileges for meet-and-greets
• Greater involvement of local law enforcement
• Increased background checks for attendees with direct access to streamers

In the long-term, Twitch is now “examining everything — from how we do sign-ups to venue layout to overall crowd management.” The company says it aims to rebuild trust with creators ahead of TwitchCon 2026, emphasizing “safety first” as its new guiding principle.

The Mizkif Connection — New Allegations Intensify the Fallout

Just days after the TwitchCon incident, Emiru dropped another bombshell — accusing fellow streamer Mizkif (Matthew Rinaudo) of sexual assault and blackmail.

She claimed Mizkif had once “climbed on top of her without consent” and later tried to threaten her into silence. According to Emiru, he made repeated contact attempts and allegedly said he could “ruin her reputation” if she spoke out.

The allegations shocked the streaming world, deepening the crisis for Twitch, which already faced criticism for its slow and inconsistent response to harassment cases among creators. Mizkif has not yet responded publicly to the accusations.

A Wake-Up Call for Twitch and the Industry

The 2025 TwitchCon incident has become a watershed moment for the streaming industry. It highlighted the urgent need for better real-world safety policies, transparent accountability, and trauma-informed responses for creators facing harassment.

Twitch has since promised to publish the findings of its internal review, but many believe the company’s credibility will depend on action, not apologies.

For Emiru, the events of October 2025 have marked both personal trauma and a professional turning point — one that may permanently reshape how Twitch handles creator protection moving forward.

FAQs

What happened to Emiru at TwitchCon 2025?
A male attendee breached multiple security barriers and attempted to kiss her during a meet-and-greet. The man was stopped by her bodyguard but not immediately detained by Twitch staff.

How did Twitch CEO Dan Clancy respond?
He admitted failure in both event security and communication, apologized publicly to Emiru, and announced sweeping reforms to TwitchCon’s security structure.

Why is Twitch facing extra backlash now?
Beyond the assault, Emiru later accused streamer Mizkif of sexual assault and blackmail, increasing scrutiny on Twitch’s culture of safety and accountability.

What changes will Twitch implement next?
Twitch plans to redesign its meet-and-greet system, strengthen police collaboration, and ensure dedicated security for high-profile streamers.