Twitch streamer Pokimane firmly stated that she has no plans to abandon the platform for Kick, as it would compromise her ethical values. This declaration follows the trend of several renowned Twitch streamers who made the switch to Kick in exchange for substantial financial offers from the newly-launched streaming platform.
Kick, which was established by streamer Trainwreckstv and businessmen Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven, entered the market in December 2022 as a direct competitor to Twitch, which is owned by Amazon. The platform has gained recognition for its lenient content moderation policies and its remarkably generous revenue sharing system. However, an integral part of Kick's strategy involves enticing prominent Twitch streamers through multi-million-dollar contracts. This has already led to notable streamers like Amouranth and xQc making the transition, leaving fans speculating about which other influential figures might follow suit.
About 46 minutes into her June 20 livestream, a fan approached the renowned Twitch streamer Pokimane with a proposition. The fan asked if she would consider joining Kick and offered a staggering $10 million contract as an incentive. However, Pokimane swiftly rejected the idea, making it clear that the decision was not solely based on financial considerations. She expressed her contentment with the trajectory of her career and firmly believed that aligning herself with Kick would compromise her ethics and morals.
Pokimane understands why small content creators who are struggling financially might accept, but she believes it doesn't make sense for a successful streamer like herself to compromise ethically. She acknowledges that xQc had done gambling content in the past, so it is reasonable for him to engage in it on Kick. However, Pokimane personally finds it embarrassing and desperate-looking, considering her own opinions and previous statements. She also feels that it would be hypocritical of her.
The connection between Kick and gambling is not coincidental. Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven, two out of three co-founders of Kick, also founded the online casino Stake.com in 2017. Kick was primarily launched as a response to Twitch's ban on gambling content in late 2022. It is likely that the revenue from Stake.com explains how Kick can afford its substantial contracts. Additionally, Kick advertises Stake's gambling services, leading some critics to believe that the platform's main focus is promoting gambling rather than offering a genuine alternative to Twitch.
Kick has also received backlash regarding its moderation policies. Notably, prominent Twitch streamer Hasan Piker has openly criticized the platform for its sexually explicit content. Additionally, Kick has faced criticism for permitting the use of racist usernames, while at the same time enforcing the alteration of usernames for other users to benefit newer accounts with larger followings. Considering the numerous controversies surrounding Kick, it comes as no surprise that Pokimane chooses to remain in her current position.
