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Previously published Feb 26. 2021
Twitch, the current most popular gamers’ streaming platform, announced the removal of their emote PogChamp. Created to indicate excitement or shock, PogChamp was the fifth-most-used emote on the site before its removal on January 6th.
This was due to the face of PogChamp, YouTuber Ryan “Gootecks” Gutierrez, tweeting comments that incited further violence at the Capitol insurrection. “Will there be civil unrest for the woman who was executed inside the Capitol today, or will the #MAGAMartyr die in vain?” Gootecks tweeted on January 6th.
As a follow-up, Gootecks tweeted an hour later, “Warning: this is graphic, but it’s important for everyone to see this video because we don’t know how it will try to be spun or suppressed, and she gave her life for our country. 🇺🇸 Rest In Peace #MAGAMartyr😔”
Gootecks also released a response to his face’s removal from the platform on his YouTube.
Despite the emote’s popularity, Twitch stated that “we can’t in good conscience continue to enable the use of the image.” However, the legacy of PogChamp endures: as of January 8th, Twitch decided to alter the emote by creating new versions using one of the numerous streamers’ faces every 24 hours. Although the original emote is no longer available on the platform, the legacy and usage of PogChamp will live on in the gaming community.
Works Cited
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/01/07/pogchamp-removed-twitch-removes-emote-stirring-further-violence/6579198002/
- https://twitter.com/gootecks?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- https://twitter.com/gootecks/status/1346945376318746626
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PogChamp#:~:text=PogChamp%20is%20an%20emote%20that,Gutierrez%20with%20a%20surprised%20expression.
- https://twitter.com/gootecks/status/1346958623113572354
- https://www.polygon.com/2021/1/6/22218059/pogchamp-twitch-removed-emote-ryan-gootecks-gutierrez-trump-capitol-hill