Emiru Assault at TwitchCon 2025 Sparks Outrage and Safety Concerns

On the opening day of TwitchCon 2025 in San Diego, popular streamer and cosplayer Emily “Emiru” Schunk was assaulted during a meet-and-greet session, sparking outrage across the gaming community and renewed scrutiny of Twitch’s event security.

Streamer Emiru assaulted at TwitchCon 2025; Twitch bans attacker and faces criticism over event security

Footage circulating on X (formerly Twitter) shows a male attendee approaching Emiru on stage, grabbing her without consent, and appearing to lean in for a kiss. Emiru quickly pushed the individual away before security intervened and escorted the man offstage.

Despite the incident, reports say Emiru later returned to finish her meet-and-greet, a decision that earned her widespread respect from fans.

Twitch Responds, But Fans Push Back

Twitch issued a statement to outlets, including Gaming Amigos, calling the behavior “completely unacceptable and deeply upsetting.” The company confirmed the individual was removed from the venue and banned indefinitely from both TwitchCon and the Twitch platform. “The safety and security of all those attending TwitchCon is our highest priority,” a spokesperson said. "Twitch has zero tolerance for harassment."

However, many fans and fellow creators criticized Twitch’s response as inadequate. On X, users questioned why security wasn’t faster to act, with one eyewitness claiming only a single guard was responsible for monitoring a long line of streamers. Others went further, calling for TwitchCon to be shut down entirely, arguing that the event has become unsafe for creators — especially women.

A Pattern of Safety Concerns

This isn’t the first time TwitchCon has faced criticism over safety. In 2024, Kick-affiliated streamers disrupted the event, harassing Twitch creators on-site.

High-profile streamers like Valkyrae and QTCinderella even pulled out of this year’s convention, citing anxiety over security risks. Twitch CEO Dan Clancy has repeatedly promised stronger protections, but incidents like this continue to raise doubts.

Who is Emiru?

For those unfamiliar, Emiru is one of Twitch’s most recognizable streamers, with nearly two million followers. She began streaming League of Legends in 2015 and has since expanded into cosplay, anime, and pop culture content.

After joining Cloud9 in 2020, she later became a co-owner of One True King (OTK) in 2022. She also runs her own cosplay contest and co-hosts the Steak & Eggs podcast.

This is not the first time Emiru has faced harassment. Earlier this year, while livestreaming in Santa Monica with Valkyrae and Cinna, a man reportedly threatened to kill them.