Can You Say Retard on Twitch in 2025 – Complete Explanation

Since Twitch introduced the Hateful Conduct and Harassment policy in 2018, numerous individuals have been banned for using the r-word or f-word.

In this article, we will thoroughly explore Twitch’s Hateful Conduct and Harassment policy and examine when it is acceptable to use the r-word.

Can You Say Retard on Twitch?

The main issue with using the r-word or any other non-racist derogatory term on Twitch is that the rules of conduct are unclear.

You have a zero-tolerance policy that is contingent upon the context of what was said and done. As a result, there may be a considerable number of false positives.

More specifically, there may be content that is playful and well-intentioned but is viewed as hateful by some individuals.

However, hateful content can be presented in a playful manner, which may cause it to go unnoticed by some individuals.

One thing that irritates me, if I may say so, is that some of the bans stemming from the use of certain prohibited words are genuinely unwarranted.

For instance, there have been cases where streamers were banned for using a specific word to refer to a troll who was harassing them, while the troll faced no repercussions.

It’s entirely unfair; I think we can all agree!

Twitch’s Hateful Conduct and Harassment Policy

Twitch’s harassment policies were considerably more lenient in 2011, which seems like a lifetime ago. Nevertheless, despite this, they never condoned or encouraged the use of derogatory terms such as “retard” or “faggot”.

However, in February 2018, Twitch introduced a new set of community guidelines and made them more restrictive in January 2021. The company has sought to combat hateful language, including humor considered offensive.

After the introduction of the new guidelines, the first high-profile streamer to receive punishment was Destiny.

A streamer who, in addition to streaming Hearthstone, is known on Twitch for discussing political topics that some may find controversial.

Despite his jokes and language often being considered offensive, Destiny has built a loyal following.

Destiny received a 30-day ban for violating, as he mentioned, two guidelines.

The first reason was that he used derogatory terms, specifically the f-word and the r-word, towards a person he was talking to on stream.

The second reason was that, during one of Destiny’s streams, he had a conversation with his mother in which he suggested that the United States should shoot Cubans who were swimming over to them.

Destiny stated that his suspension was a result of the second offense.

There is a good reason for this, in my opinion.

Harassment on Twitch

Over time, Twitch has adopted a zero-tolerance policy concerning hateful content, meaning they will not permit any content or activity that advocates for, encourages, or facilitates discrimination, denigration, objectification, harassment, or violence based on:

In other words, using racial slurs such as the n-word, referring to someone as a “faggot” or “retard,” or saying “shoot Cubans” is generally considered a zero-tolerance violation. This may result in a temporary suspension, which can vary from a one-day ban to a 30-day ban, or even an indefinite suspension.

Streamers Must Also Be Accountable for Their Audience’s Actions

The policy on hateful conduct and harassment applies not only to the actions of the streamer but also to the behavior and comments of their chat participants.

Streamers have encountered multiple bans for opening links, images, or videos shared by their audience in the chat.

Even with moderators present in the chat, an individual may still post a link containing hateful content, which could result in the streamer being banned.

This is especially true for popular streamers who may have tens of thousands of viewers in the chat.

Some streamers have faced bans after reports indicated that several individuals from their chat harassed another streamer in their chat.

This poses a significant risk for streamers, as they may encounter indefinite suspension or banning because of the actions of a single individual.

Is There an Acceptable Excuse for Such Conduct?

Twitch explicitly states in their Hateful Conduct and Harassment policy that they support users who express diverse or unpopular viewpoints in humorous or controversial ways, as long as the intent is clear.

This indicates that context is essential.

Some Twitch community members believe that the same standards should be applied to inappropriate language.

They explain that the term “faggot” also has legitimate uses, such as referring to a cigarette or a bundle of sticks, for instance.

Additionally, the term “retarded” is a medical term in its own right. However, it is regarded as outdated, and some may even argue that it is unethical.

For these reasons, some members of the Twitch community believe that the r-word and the f-word should not be considered a zero-tolerance violation.

For example, popular streamer Asmongold stated that there is nothing wrong with using the r-word and that those who get upset about it are simply foolish.

On the other hand, xQc, one of the platform’s most popular streamers with over 9.9 million followers, has faced criticism in the past for using derogatory terms. He has stated that he does not support the use of the r-word, but his stance is not related to the Twitch chat rules and regulations; rather, it is a matter of personal choice.

Final Word

At present, Twitch has not officially added the word “retard” to its list of banned words; however, it is strongly discouraged to use it.

Even in cases where you use some of the banned words “correctly” or in different contexts, or when you are merely trying to retaliate against internet trolls, you can still face a ban, while the trolls may remain unpunished!

Ultimately, it may not be banned per se, but you could face consequences if caught. Therefore, if someone is acting foolishly, it might be best to meditate it out. 😉