Dr Disrespect veers right into Rumble
Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images
Rumble, the video streaming platform that’s become the home for right-wing personalities like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Tim Pool as well as full-throated racists like Nick Fuentes, has a new member joining its ranks: Dr Disrespect. The streamer announced the news via social media and Rumble confirmed it in a press release, stating that the streamer will provide a mix of free and paid content for the platform as well as “acting as an advisor and helping to build the Rumble Gaming community.”
The move to Rumble is the latest development in the Dr Disrespect streaming saga that began four years ago. In 2020, Dr Disrespect, whose real name is Herschel “Guy” Beahm, was banned from Twitch with little explanation mere months after signing a multi-million dollar exclusivity deal. Earlier this year, The Verge and other outlets broke the news that the reason for his ban was due to inappropriate conversations Beahm had with a minor. Beahm denied any wrongdoing stating that there were no “real intentions” behind the messages. He then took a two-month break before returning to stream on YouTube. In response to the allegations, YouTube suspended monetization on his channel and his membership in YouTube’s partner program and denied his appeal to re-monetize his channel late last month.
Cut off from one of his major sources of income, while still drawing thousands of viewers with his streams, there was speculation that Beahm would take his content to Kick. Beahm’s contentious behavior combined with Kick’s reputation for doling out millions of dollars to attract high-profile creators, lax moderation policy, and hosting its own stable of controversial creators, made the platform the next likely choice. However, in a recent interview, Kick CEO Ed Craven stated that a deal with the embattled creator, “from a financial and business perspective right now, would make zero sense.”
Banned from Twitch, de-monetized on YouTube, and with Kick essentially telling him “no thanks,” Rumble is one of the last places available to Beahm if he wants to continue to make money streaming, especially as his other working relationships dwindle.
After the news broke regarding the reason for his Twitch ban, Midnight Society, the game studio Beahm co-founded with former Infinity Ward developers, terminated their relationship. Beahm was also dropped by his sponsors at Turtle Beach, his relationship with the San Francisco 49ers was terminated, and his content in NBA 2K24 was subsequently removed. Though the press release does not disclose how exactly how much Beahm will be paid, it does indicate that “equity with milestones,” will be the “majority of its compensation.”
The press release does not indicate if this is deal means Dr Disrespect’s streams will be exclusive to Rumble or if he will continue streaming on YouTube. The Verge has reached out to Rumble for comment.
Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images
Rumble, the video streaming platform that’s become the home for right-wing personalities like Tucker Carlson, Steve Bannon, and Tim Pool as well as full-throated racists like Nick Fuentes, has a new member joining its ranks: Dr Disrespect. The streamer announced the news via social media and Rumble confirmed it in a press release, stating that the streamer will provide a mix of free and paid content for the platform as well as “acting as an advisor and helping to build the Rumble Gaming community.”
The move to Rumble is the latest development in the Dr Disrespect streaming saga that began four years ago. In 2020, Dr Disrespect, whose real name is Herschel “Guy” Beahm, was banned from Twitch with little explanation mere months after signing a multi-million dollar exclusivity deal. Earlier this year, The Verge and other outlets broke the news that the reason for his ban was due to inappropriate conversations Beahm had with a minor. Beahm denied any wrongdoing stating that there were no “real intentions” behind the messages. He then took a two-month break before returning to stream on YouTube. In response to the allegations, YouTube suspended monetization on his channel and his membership in YouTube’s partner program and denied his appeal to re-monetize his channel late last month.
Cut off from one of his major sources of income, while still drawing thousands of viewers with his streams, there was speculation that Beahm would take his content to Kick. Beahm’s contentious behavior combined with Kick’s reputation for doling out millions of dollars to attract high-profile creators, lax moderation policy, and hosting its own stable of controversial creators, made the platform the next likely choice. However, in a recent interview, Kick CEO Ed Craven stated that a deal with the embattled creator, “from a financial and business perspective right now, would make zero sense.”
Banned from Twitch, de-monetized on YouTube, and with Kick essentially telling him “no thanks,” Rumble is one of the last places available to Beahm if he wants to continue to make money streaming, especially as his other working relationships dwindle.
After the news broke regarding the reason for his Twitch ban, Midnight Society, the game studio Beahm co-founded with former Infinity Ward developers, terminated their relationship. Beahm was also dropped by his sponsors at Turtle Beach, his relationship with the San Francisco 49ers was terminated, and his content in NBA 2K24 was subsequently removed. Though the press release does not disclose how exactly how much Beahm will be paid, it does indicate that “equity with milestones,” will be the “majority of its compensation.”
The press release does not indicate if this is deal means Dr Disrespect’s streams will be exclusive to Rumble or if he will continue streaming on YouTube. The Verge has reached out to Rumble for comment.