Pop Culture

Pokimane Laments Current State of Streaming, Misses When It Was 'Not Just Drama Baiting'

The 2025 Streamer Awards nominee speaks out about the current state of streaming.

Pokimane in a black lace gown poses at a formal event, smiling, with a dark background featuring text.
Image via Getty/Matt Winkelmeyer/The Recording Academy

Pokimane is lamenting the current state of streaming, telling fans she misses when “drama baiting” wasn’t at the center of it.

In an X update on Wednesday (Nov. 19), the previous Twitch Streamer of the Year winner shared her thoughts, spurring reflections from her followers on how the streaming space has indeed changed over the years.

“I miss when streaming was about gaming, not just drama baiting and clip farming,” Pokimane wrote, as seen below.

The 29-year-old star has been active as a streamer for more than a decade, first entering the space with a focus on Riot Games’ League of Legends. In the years since, Pokimane’s notoriety has continued to rise.

At next month’s Streamer Awards, Pokimane is up for Best Streamed Collab alongside KATSEYE. The category sees her competing against streams from PlaqueBoyMax with Fred again.., Cinna with Zelina Vega, and Kai Cenat with LeBron James.

In a recent Instagram Stories update, Pokimane offered thanks for the nomination, telling fans she “really didn’t expect this.” She’s had success at the ceremony in the past, previously taking home the Legacy Award in 2021.

Earlier this year, Pokimane hinted at a period of behind-the-scenes restructuring in response to an already recorded Sweet n Sour podcast episode with fellow streamer Hasan Piker not being released. According to Pokimane, “staff refused to upload” the episode “out of fear it’d cause drama.” She also told fans that a statement announcing the decision had been shared without her approval.

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