Pokimane Accuses Former Twitch Safety Team Member of Manipulating Women Using Fake Romantic Relationship With Her

Popular streamer and content creator Imane “Pokimane” Anys has once again brought to light deeply troubling claims involving a former high-level Twitch employee. On April 19, 2025, during her podcast episode, Pokimane revisited serious allegations first made public in 2023, in which she accused a former member of Twitch’s public safety team of using his position of power and influence to manipulate and exploit women in her community.

At the heart of the accusation: the Twitch employee reportedly told multiple women he was in a romantic relationship with Pokimane, in an elaborate scheme that allegedly involved emotional manipulation, deception, and coercion. Pokimane says this individual used these fabricated claims to gain the trust of women, all while abusing his proximity to her and his internal access to Twitch systems.

The Original Claims from 2023

Pokimane first shared the story in March 2023. At the time, she described the individual as a “well-connected” figure who worked behind the scenes at Twitch. According to her, he used his insider status and connections to gain credibility with multiple women in the streaming and online content creation space.

“He acted like he knew and hung out with me and my friends in person,” Pokimane explained in the March 2023 stream. “This is someone I’ve never met. He fabricated screenshots and stories about our relationship. He told girls that we were together, showed them fake DMs, even claimed I was sending him intimate photos. This is completely false. It is truly some of the most disgusting and deplorable behavior I’ve ever heard of.”

She also alleged that the man threatened the women emotionally, reportedly telling them he would harm himself if they exposed the situation. These threats were designed to prevent the women from speaking out or connecting to verify his claims.

April 2025: The Allegations Resurface

More than two years later, Pokimane has reignited public discussion around the issue in her April 19, 2025 podcast episode. While she reiterated many of the details from 2023, the tone of this latest conversation was more urgent and resolute. She revealed that since going public with her story, more women have come forward and that the scope of the manipulation was wider than initially thought.

“He faked a romantic relationship with me… for the last two years. Girls ended up talking to each other and figuring out what he was doing. That’s how the truth finally came out,” she said on the podcast.

Pokimane emphasized that she believes the man exploited his position on Twitch’s public safety team, which is meant to protect the community from harm, not enable it. She considers that his insider knowledge of Twitch moderation tools and user behavior systems gave him an unsettling degree of authority and access to both streamers and fans.

Lack of Transparency from Twitch

One of the most pressing concerns Pokimane has highlighted, both in 2023 and now in 2025, is the lack of public accountability and transparency on Twitch. She claims the individual was eventually removed from the company after an internal investigation, but Twitch has made no public comment and has not confirmed any disciplinary action.

“There’s no official statement. No one really knows what happened. Twitch has never acknowledged this publicly. It’s like it never happened,” Pokimane said.

The lack of corporate acknowledgment has left Pokimane and many in the streaming community deeply frustrated. She described the silence as not only harmful to the victims but ialso ndicative of a broader issue in tech and gaming companies, where abuses of power are often swept under the rug unless they’ areexposed publicly.

Manipulation Tactics Allegedly Used

According to Pokimane, the alleged manipulator used a combination of tactics including:

• Falsified screenshots showing fake DMs with Pokimane
• She sent doctored images, including intimate photos he claimed
• Emotional manipulation, including threats of self-harm
• Leveraging Twitch credentials to gain trust and authority

Many of the women involved believed his claims because he held a legitimate position at Twitch and had access to behind-the-scenes tools and knowledge that made his stories seem credible.

“He used insider knowledge to make everything seem real. It’s horrifying how easy it was for him to use his job title to manipulate people,” Pokimane stated.

A Call for Reform and Protection

Pokimane has also been candid about how powerless she felt when trying to pursue legal action. According to her, even after extensive discussions with attorneys, she was told that there were no clear legal options unless one of the victims came forward and filed charges.

“There’s no legal course that I can really take, even though this has caused so much harm to so many people. The system just isn’t built to protect creators or fans from this kind of manipulation,” she admitted during the 2025 episode.

Her latest comments have reignited calls within the industry for greater safeguards for both creators and community members, especially those who are younger, newer, or less connected. Fans and fellow streamers have rallied behind Pokimane, expressing outrage and demanding accountability from Twitch and its leadership.

No Response From the Accused

To date, the individual accused has not made any public statements. His identity has not been revealed, as Pokimane made a deliberate decision to prioritize the privacy of the women involved. She has repeatedly said her intent is not to spark a witch hunt, but to warn others of how easily manipulation can happen, even within a space meant to be safe.

Industry Reactions and What Comes Next

The situation has provoked widespread discussion within the streaming and gaming community. Many creators have praised Pokimane for speaking out and standing by the affected women. Others have criticized Twitch for its inaction and secrecy, especially given the seriousness of the claims.

Without formal statements from Twitch or legal proceedings, the full extent of the situation remains murky. But Pokimane’s consistent and clear messaging over the past two years has made it increasingly difficult for the platform or the public to ignore.

An Industry-Wide Wake-Up Call

Pokimane’s allegations shine a light on a disturbing underbelly of power abuse within the streaming world, one that can no longer be brushed aside as hearsay or internal drama. Whether Twitch responds remains to be seen, but the message from one of its most influential creators is unmistakably clear.

No one should be able to use a position of power to exploit fans, especially not in someone else’s name. The streaming industry must address this issue and do better.