Twitch has faced criticism from smaller streamers and their followers after FaZe Lacy was banned and then quickly reinstated.
The suspension lasted only about 36 minutes and 18 seconds, according to StreamerBans.
Another FaZe member, Jason, mentioned on stream that he reached out to Twitch’s CEO, Dan Clancy, for assistance.
Jason stated, “I called him, and he was like, ‘Did someone get suspended?’ He didn’t even know what was happening.”
Shortly after, Jason’s chat informed him that Lacy’s account had already been restored.
On January 4, 2025, Lacy’s account was reportedly hacked, resulting in inappropriate images being displayed during a live stream.
Following that incident, Twitch decided to ban his account, which has over 1.1 million followers.
He confirmed the ban on his Twitter/X account with a post saying, “I am hacked, I have no access to my account and can’t end my stream. Working on it now sorry for anyone who is seeing this disgusting stuff.”
The swift lifting of the ban, along with videos of Jason claiming he contacted the Twitch CEO to have Lacy unbanned, has sparked criticism.
Smaller streamers and viewers voiced their concerns about Twitch’s handling of bans and the notion of favoritism.
The incident ignited significant discussions online, as many expressed their concerns over the perceived preferential treatment given to larger streamers like Lacy. Numerous smaller streamers and viewers felt frustrated, questioning the fairness of Twitch’s ban process.
One user commented, “It seems like if you have the right connections, the rules don’t apply to you.” Another added, “This situation just proves that success on these platforms is not about hard work but who you know.”
Critics highlighted recent changes announced at Twitch Con regarding bans and appeals, with some questioning the necessity of these updates. “What was the point of the presentation on the new appeals system if bigger creators can bypass it so easily?” they wondered, labeling the situation as blatant favoritism.
Others voiced their frustration over the inconsistency in Twitch’s response to suspensions, stating, “It’s disheartening to watch some users get reinstated quickly while others are left hanging, even when they feel they were banned unjustly.”
Twitch’s ban policies have always been contentious within the streaming community, with both prominent and lesser-known streamers frequently facing restrictions for various reasons.
Many believe that Twitch’s ban enforcement remains inconsistent, particularly with the ongoing issues facing VTubers. Lacy’s brief suspension has only heightened discussions of favoritism and inequity on the platform.
