Emiru assaulted at TwitchCon amid critical concern for streamer safety
TwitchCon has been slammed by streamers and viewers for dangerously subpar security after one of Twitch’s most popular streamers, Emily Beth ‘Emiru’ Schunk, was assaulted at her meet and greet event.
Following the incident, streamers and viewers are criticising Twitch for both its security provision and response to Emiru’s experience.
“I don’t understand how he was allowed to make it to me in the first place” – Emiru assaulted at TwitchCon San Diego
While at her meet and greet event during TwitchCon San Diego, a man assaulted Emiru. He bypassed the meet and greet queues, walked up to her, grabbed her body and face, and tried to kiss her. The incident was captured on video and has since gone viral.
TwitchCon’s own security personnel did not attempt to prevent him from reaching Emiru. The only immediate reaction was from Emiru’s own personal security.
Several hours after Emri’s assault, Twitch released a statement online. The company states that “In line with existing TwitchCon security protocols, law enforcement and event security were on site and responded to the incident.”
Twitch also stated, “We immediately blocked this individual from returning to the TwitchCon premises, and that are banned indefinitely from Twitch, both online and in-person events.”
Responding to Twitch, Emiru confirmed that the man was “allowed to cross multiple barriers and even in front of another creator’s meet and greet.”
She also refuted Twitch’s claims that they immediately dealt with the situation. According to Emiru, “none of the TwitchCon staff came to ask what happened or if I was ok.”
Alongside this, she alleges, “he was allowed to walk away from my meet and greet and I didn’t hear he was caught until hour after he attacked me.”
“I have no idea what anyone hired to keep the event safe was doing” – TwitchCon security practices slammed for inaction
In an attempt to reassure other attendees, Twitch conveyed in their statement online, “We have increased security and the Meet & Greet attendee check-in point and will have additional security personnel surrounding participating streamers.
However, this statement prompts the question: why was this level of security not provided from the start?
Emiru included in her statement that she is “a lot more hurt and upset by how Twitch handled it during and after the fact” rather than by the intent of the perpetrator.
Scrutiny of Twitch’s security practices predates the events of TwitchCon San Diego. Before the event, streamers Valkyrae and QTCinderella both announced they would not attend due to safety concerns. Rampant harassment at TwitchCon Rotterdam earlier in 2025 significantly contributed to these worries.
Given the height of concerns pre-event, it is worrying that Twitch did not standardise increased security for TwitchCon San Diego. According to streamer Ludwig, “It is insane Emi has to be harassed irl for Twitch to start ‘taking things seriously’.”
He continued to say, “Creators have been warning Twitch for years they are lacking in security.”
Furthermore, Emiru confirmed that Twitch banned her preferred personal security from accompanying her to the event.
Responding to Twitch, she stated, “My favourite and usual security guard was banned for holding a stalkers arm to bring him to police, at a past TwitchCon.”
Twitch CEO Dan Clancy’s response to security concerns
Streamers and viewers were further angered by Twitch’s reaction after Taylor Lorenz discussed the incident with Twitch CEO Dan Clancy.
When questioned about how Twitch would ensure improved safety for its streamers, Clancy stated, “I do think that when you’re livestreaming, in many ways you can control your community.” Immediately, viewers identified this as partially shifting blame to Emiru.
One viewer commented, “He literally victim blamed her the entire interview.”
Another pointed out the issue with placing responsibility on streamers for the actions of others at an in-person event. They commented, “Since when can an individual streamer ban somebody from attending the con?”
This interview and incident have also increased calls for Clancy to step down.
“This is definitely my last TwitchCon” – Emiru joins the streamer exodus
Following the assault and inadequate reaction from TwitchCon staff, Emiru has confirmed that she will not be returning to TwitchCon.
She also urged others to consider their safety: “I think other creators should seriously consider not attending in the future. I did not feel cared for or protected, even bringing my own security and staff. I can’t imagine how creators without those options would feel.”
The severe risk presented by Emiru’s experience has also led to comparisons with the tragic death of singer Christina Grimmie. In 2016, Christina Grimmie was shot by a member of the public at a poorly secured venue.
Twitch viewers have commented that if Emiru’s assaulter had been carrying a weapon, she risked suffering a similar fate.
After the incident, Emiru confirmed in a livestream that she is pressing charges against the man who assaulted her.
With TwitchCon increasingly marred by assault and harassment reports, Emiru’s experience prompts the streaming community to consider whether the event’s history warrants it to have a future.
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