The Twitch mod “BigMac” was long an integral part of Marcel “MontanaBlack” Eris’ (35) streams. Now he accuses the streamer of not only underpaying him but also wasting his time.
What is it about the mod? MontanaBlack is one of the biggest streamers in German Twitch, has millions of fans and thousands of viewers. The chat can get quite turbulent at times. For years, “BigMac” ensured order and justice in the streamer’s chat as a moderator.
The catchphrase “BigMac, ban him” was a staple of the stream until MontanaBlack banned his own mod.
Now BigMac is criticizing his former employer and friend on Twitter.
BigMac claims MontanaBlack still owes him money
What does BigMac have to say about MontanaBlack? On April 25, BigMac shared two videos on Twitter, in which MontanaBlack discusses salaries, rising living costs, and inflation. The streamer repeatedly states that €1,500 to €1,700 per month is almost “nothing” and that hardly anyone can live on it.
The former mod writes that MontanaBlack paid him only €1,700 for his work, and in the first months, it was only €1,500. Furthermore, the streamer still owes him salary for 2 months.
In the comments, BigMac further claims that MontanaBlack has earned thousands of euros monthly with the emotes he created. He has asked the streamer several times to settle his debts and only made it public now (via Twitter).
Twitter users mock, saying it isn’t real work
What are the reactions like? If BigMac had expected a wave of sympathy for himself and anger towards MontanaBlack, he seems to have miscalculated. In the comments, the majority seems to think that moderating a Twitch chat isn’t real work and that BigMac was rather overpaid.
He counters that he not only moderated the chat but was also MontanaBlack’s assistant, his right hand, and “like a brother to him.” He had to be available around the clock.
What particularly bothers him is that MontanaBlack apparently considered the payment too low himself and made such statements in the stream knowing that his moderator would be watching, according to BigMac.
Apparently, the topic of MontanaBlack is not yet truly finished for the former mod. He seems to accuse the streamer of having prevented him from pursuing his dreams. MontanaBlack made him “dependent on him,” and BigMac wasted 9 years of his life for him.
The streamer has not yet commented on the accusations from his former friend.
The debate over whether mods on Twitch should be paid is quite controversial, both among content creators and viewers. Some streamers see their moderators as employees, like their editors, while some of the largest streamers on Twitch rely on unpaid labor.
2 of the biggest streamers on Twitch rely on unpaid helpers – “Without mods they would be banned”
