Terry

Official Update: We’re in positive discussions with potential acquirers and working to find the best path forward for creators, customers, and our team. We’ll share more updates soon. We’ve spent over a decade building for creators and will do everything we can to keep supporting this community.

RE: StreamElements To get everyone on the same page, here's a breakdown on what's happening, because rumors always travel further and faster in a vacuum. Earlier today, there was an initial rumor that StreamElements was laying off all staff and shutting down. I heard this secondhand from a trusted source, but, like any rumor, it was not confirmed; it was merely a starting point. (I personally require at least two independent sources to confirm a story, as individuals can make mistakes or misinterpret the facts, especially if there's a reason that might make it personal.) Since then, this single source has repeated this story to everyone in his StreamElements Sponsorship Discord (not the official one), and as such, it has been shared as a rumor widely across streamer Twitter. Yes, he does work for StreamElements as a Creator Success Manager. So, he does have credibility. At the same time, I have attempted to get secondary confirmation from anyone at StreamElements - but have been unable to. Every person I have spoken to about this (creators, former SE staff, media people) has the same source... the person mentioned above. Now that said, let's talk contributing factors: 1. StreamElements continues to be silent on the matter. 2. They have been slow to pay users in recent weeks. 3. They seem to have been removed from Twitch's Third Party sponsorship offers. 4. They have been soliciting donations to keep the service free. 5. They have had numerous layoffs over the last few years, and more have left of their own volition in the last few months. On the other hand, it's unusual to simply shut down a service with hundreds of thousands of users without first becoming a paid service. Or maybe just shutting down part of the service and focusing wholly on the sponsorship side. Either way, it's unusual. This entire thing is unusual. And while the rumors may end up being true, I don't feel confident saying that yet. As I said, my standard is at least two independent confirmations - more is better. I always prefer being right to being first. That said, given the situation as presented, it may still be worthwhile to ensure any SEPay money is requested, and you may want to download your alerts (or move to an alternative, such as Streamlabs. Disclosure: I have a partnership with them - but an easy link to do so is attached below.) If I learn more before StreamElements addresses it publicly themselves, I will share whatever facts I can confirm.

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I mean, happy to really spell it out now that I’m fully out of content. I kept it vague then because I wasn’t about to be yet another streamer who starts shit online by bitching, you know? 1st was the main reason: after I was verified I felt the target on my back, and it ate at me for a WHILE. I had already been botted many times, someone had doxxed multiple people in my chat, and it was becoming more and more apparent that there were a couple other creators who were gunning for me to say or do something they could use to start shit, and I’m not here for that (was proven right when my departure was used for content). 2nd is in relation: Kick does not actually give a flying fuck about small streamers. I do not care what they say otherwise. Take the announcements of OG kick partners (rip), KCIP (now kick partner program so rip), Kick Front Page test (rip), along with various other competitions and campaigns to make small streamers fall over themselves trying to catch the attention. How many truly small streamers from these have actually made it to the Kick’s small streamers spotlight and then *stayed there*? Like truly talented streamers and people persons who bust their ass for it and are not only highlighted, but are consistently uplifted and encouraged to expand their potential by Kick to become a success story for them? As they’ve advertised. If you can’t think of any, it’s because they’re not actually looking to do that. They want new faces in the spotlight every time so they can convince the audience that “this could be YOU NEXT!!” And yes, it very well could be your face on one of their X posts or on their front page, but they’re not looking for a success story, so that’s all you’re going to get. It will always be free-for-all competitions and events with fresh faces in the hopes that someone does something crazy or controversial enough to go viral, and THEN they have a success story. How do I know this? At DH ATL 2024, I confirmed that they were done with me. I was busting my ass and growing that year, I had ideas and was pitching, I put myself out there every chance I had. I was making the numbers for KCIP, the OG more strict ones! I was assured after the front page tests that not only I would be verified, I would be in the program. All I had to do was submit for “formality”. And then I was rejected. And then I went to DH ATL 2024, and I say to this day that was my biggest weekend for streaming. I’m still proud of myself for working as hard as I did. But it was made very obvious to me that Kick considered me old news and it didn’t matter what I did anymore. I wasn’t controversial enough so I didn’t matter to them anymore. So I decided I was done. A part of me hoped when I announced that someone from Kick staff would reach out, if anything to ask why. I had been there since really early Kick and again, busted my ass for them every chance I had gotten. I was hopeful for a sign that they still cared and we could work to fix the cracks that had strained my support. How many did? 0. (PS: If they really wanted to support small streamers, they would stop only showing massive streamers on their accounts on other platforms like TikTok and try to find great clips from smaller streamers to promote. It REALLY is that easy)

When I quit streaming for a year, I went to TwitchCon and was met with legit someone saying "you're brave to come here" because of all the drama. The DRAMA??? I wasnt streaming let alone talking to any streamers. I unfollowed everyone and ghosted when I quit. Yet I STILL got wrapped up in drama while I was away. Im over it now, but I bring it up to share that no matter what you do or don't do, you'll get haters. Just be you and try to do what's right; family and best friends are so much more important than randoms on the internet who think they know you. Sending hugs 🫂