The streamer Forkgirl lost her channel on Twitch a week ago. At first, she thought a copyright violation was the reason, but now she knows she received a ban for nudity. She does not want to accept this. She criticizes a new naked rule for body painting. The clause is far too vague.
This is what the streamer does on Twitch: The streamer Forkgirl is a body painter. She goes topless, applies a base that covers her breasts, turns on the camera, and paints her upper body to look like a famous character from pop culture, such as a heroine from the action MOBA Smite or a character from the shooter Valorant.
During her streams, which sometimes last 10 or 12 hours, she has an average of about 100 to 150 viewers.
This is her history with bans: As a body painter, the streamer has frequently come into conflict with the rules on Twitch:
- In February 2020, her Twitch channel was permanently banned. The ban was lifted by Twitch after her case went through the media. However, she was warned to always keep her breasts covered. At that time, the streamer demanded new, clear rules.
- In April, new, clearer nudity rules from Twitch came, explicitly allowing body painting as long as the breasts were always covered and the genital area was not visible.
- In June 2020, Forkgirl’s channel was banned again – but she did not know why.
This is why the streamer was banned: Last week, Forkgirl complained that Twitch had deleted her channel without comment. In the meantime, she thought she had been the victim of copyright strikes sent out by Twitch in the last week because music that was copyrighted could be heard in old Twitch clips.
However, she now has certainty: Twitch did indeed ban her because of her body painting.
The streamer is incredibly upset about this.
She says this ban was unjustified. Although Twitch updated the rules for body painting, they subsequently inserted a completely vague clause to ultimately ban any body painter they want (via twitter).
When body painters stop painting, they can be banned
This is the clause in question: Twitch has indeed added a clause regarding “body art.” It now states that the exception rules for body art only apply as long as the artist is actively performing the body art (via twitch)
Artists are only allowed “temporary interruptions” and only during active painting sessions or to model the final result.
This means: As soon as Twitch thinks a body painter is doing many things besides painting, the normal nudity rules apply, and Twitch can ban the body painter if, for example, the lower part of the breast is visible.
Streamer accuses Twitch of arbitrariness and injustice
The streamer says: They have always followed the rules. She has merely stopped painting to do normal streamer things:
- She greeted guests
- Showed her previous work
- Held giveaways
- Bit into a bagel or ate a few grapes
- Did similar things that one does during a 12-hour stream
According to the streamer, Twitch is using the new clause to issue “false and inconsistent bans.” As a body painter, one has asked for clear rules without gray areas; Twitch provided those, but then inserted “this thing” so they can ban body painters at any time.
The streamer says the ban is devastating for her. Her channel has been taken from her unjustly. Again.
She is so sad and disappointed and does not understand why this keeps happening to her.
Not only body painters have trouble with the clothing rules on Twitch. The streamer Emma “Swebliss” Bliss also had issues with Twitch regarding the rules.
She said she would be banned for wearing outfits that are completely normal and with which other women can appear without any consequences.
