YouTube has formally suspended monetization on the channel of Guy Beahm, the favored streamer often known as Dr Disrespect, amid persevering with studies surrounding his 2020 ban from Twitch and his alleged sexually specific messages to a minor.
“We have suspended DrDisrespect’s channel from the YouTube Partner Program following severe allegations towards the creator,” a YouTube spokesperson stated in an announcement to IGN. “This motion means the channel is not capable of monetize on YouTube.”
YouTube added that it took the motion on Beahm’s channel “for violating our Creator Responsibility policy.” The coverage, because the spokesperson notes, signifies that if a creator’s off-platform conduct “harms our customers, workers, or ecosystem, we might take motion to guard our neighborhood, together with by suspending monetization.” The creator can also be unable to create new or alternate channels whereas their present channel is suspended from the YouTube Partner Program.
YouTube’s affirmation comes after a number of on social media identified on Thursday night that Beahm’s channel not had monetization options accessible, together with paid memberships. It additionally follows per week of steady new particulars surrounding the circumstances of Beahm’s ban from Twitch in 2020.
Last Friday, former Twitch worker Cody Conners wrote in a put up on X/Twitter that Beahm was banned from the streaming platform virtually precisely 4 years in the past for “sexting” a minor by way of Twitch’s Whispers characteristic and making an attempt to satisfy up with them at TwitchCon (Disclosure: Conners labored briefly at IGN in 2011). While Conners did not point out Beahm by title, studies in The Verge and Bloomberg confirmed that he was certainly referring to the favored streamer, corroborating Conners’ account and offering additional particulars.
The most up-to-date report got here earlier on Thursday by way of Rolling Stone, through which one other former Twitch worker instructed the outlet that Beahm knew the minor he was messaging was underage, and continued to ship them sexually specific messages anyway. The report additionally quoted Ryan Wyatt, former international head of gaming partnerships at Google, who stated that YouTube Gaming did not supply a contract to Beahm as a result of rumors surrounding his Twitch ban.
For his half, Beahm issued a prolonged assertion on the allegations on X/Twitter on Tuesday, admitting that he did message a minor by way of Twitch Whispers in 2017, and that these messages “typically leaned an excessive amount of within the route of being inappropriate.” He added, nevertheless, that “nothing unlawful occurred, no photos had been shared, no crimes had been dedicated,” and in addition pointed to his 2021 lawsuit towards Twitch over the ban, which was resolved in 2022.
Twitch has remained silent on the revelations in latest days regardless of a number of requests for remark. Today’s assertion marks the primary public touch upon the scenario from YouTube, the place Beahm has streamed for the final a number of years. Beahm final streamed on Monday, the place he famous he can be taking an prolonged trip, however stated in his assertion on Tuesday that he would return.
While it is uncommon for YouTube to take such de-monetization actions towards a big channel like Beahm’s, it isn’t unprecedented. Previously, the platform has utilized the coverage on channels of different fashionable creators together with Russell Brand, David Dobrik, and James Charles.
The suspension is just the newest within the persevering with fallout in response to the allegations surrounding Beahm and his ban from Twitch. Previously, companions and sponsors like Turtle Beach, 2K, and the San Francisco 49ers reduce ties with the streamer, and Midnight Society, the sport studio Beahm co-founded, additionally terminated its relationship with him.
Thumbnail credit score: Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing leisure reporting. When she’s not writing or enhancing, yow will discover her studying fantasy novels or enjoying Dungeons & Dragons.
