The former developer of Call of Duty, Guy Beahm (40), has been appearing as the macho caricature “DrDisrespect” since 2010 and became one of the most important streamers on Twitch with PUBG. However, in 2020 he was banned from Twitch and has since landed on YouTube. Now Beahm complains: He gives YouTube so much, but they give him nothing back. He feels exploited. Of all people, DrDisrespect is demanding more respect.
This is the situation:
- In June 2020, DrDisrespect was banned from Twitch. Before that, he had built an excellent career there, signed a massive exclusive contract in March 2020 and had become the “face of the platform”. The reasons for the ban remain unclear to this day – but there are theories.
- Without a reasonable alternative, DrDisrespect was forced to switch to live streaming on YouTube, where he had previously already built a large channel with the re-broadcasting of his Twitch streams.
- Since 2020, YouTube has poached some streamers from Twitch with lucrative exclusive contracts. However, DrDisrespect streams on the platform without such an exclusive contract. Although he is successful there, he earns only a quarter of what he received on Twitch.
The permanent ban of DrDisrespect is the most significant ban from Twitch at all:
DrDisrespect demands respect from YouTube
This is what he says now: In a tweet on Saturday evening around 8 PM German time, Guy Beahm (via Twitter) states:
It’s amazing to think that the platform where Doc streams doesn’t support him at all. No follow, zero communication, absolutely no love.
The impact that we have on the growth of streaming on YouTube is insane. We’ve been exploited. God, YouTube show a little respect.
YouTube pays Twitch streamers a lot of money – Just not DrDisrespect
Is he right? Partially. From his perspective, it seems unfair that other streamers at his level (like TimTheTatman) or below (like Courage or DrLupo) are getting exclusive contracts worth millions of US dollars while he is not. That part is correct.
When people like DrLupo say: YouTube gives them money that changes their life, then DrDisrespect’s mustache surely curls.
The question is, how much DrDisrespect has contributed to strengthening streaming on YouTube. And whether he really has as much influence on the growth of live streaming as he claims.
YouTube would be doing just as well or poorly today if DrDisrespect had not switched there in 2020. The streamers who have switched to YouTube have done so because they were offered a lot of money, not because DrDisrespect was there.
The question is: Why should YouTube support him and not a streamer they believe in because they have invested a lot of money in them?
YouTube prefers “nice” streamers, throwing money at them
Why doesn’t he get an exclusive contract? Twitch has only bought streamers who have a squeaky-clean image and are “family-friendly” like
- the rising streamer Valkyrae
- “Papa” TimTheTatman, kind of a good mood bear
- the exemplary DrLupo, who has made a name for himself with charity events
- the innovative Ludwig, one of the most exciting streamers of recent years
Of all the “bad boys and girls on Twitch” like Tyler1, xQc, Amouranth, or Tfue, they consciously kept their distance, even though they were bigger than those they bought.
DrDisrespect, as a deliberately controversial and provocative streamer, does not fit the image that YouTube wants to project of its streamers.
Why is the situation what it is? It is quite unusual. One would have at least expected communication with DrDisrespect.
The longtime boss of YouTube Gaming, Ryan Watts, specifically approached Twitch streamers who were banned from Twitch, and made YouTube appealing to them. He specifically sought out Valkyrae and other platform stars, but apparently kept his distance from DrDisrespect.
It is unknown why DrDisrespect has been treated like an “undesirable person” by Twitch since 2020, who even issued new rules to distance themselves from him.
YouTube also seems to simply not want to touch him and not want to connect with him.
It is quite possible that the managers at YouTube know why DrDisrespect was banned from Twitch and are also wary of a business relationship.
How are the reactions to the tweet? The reactions are rather skeptical. People say:
- “He doesn’t want recognition – he just wants money. He is greedy – this is also evident in the NFTs in his game.”
- “YouTube is much bigger than the 15,000 to 20,000 viewers you bring every 3 days. That’s just a drop in the ocean compared to their revenue.”
Others agree with DrDisrespect, believing that “relationships and friendships” of the streamers with decision-makers at YouTube are more important for getting a good deal than actual performance.
DrDisrespect likes to portray himself as a tough macho figure, but the Twitch ban has thrown him off course as we know:
Dr Disrespect is struggling to cope with the Twitch ban, has real problems
