YouTube Streamer IShowSpeed Accused of Sexism in EA FC 24 Stream

American YouTuber IShowSpeed, also known as Darren Jason Watkins Jr, is facing allegations of sexism after his reaction to opening an unexpected player in his first EA FC 24 stream. Watkins, who boasts a massive following on YouTube, has previously been banned from Twitch for violating their policies on sexual coercion or intimidation. His latest controversy arose when he discovered that female football players are now included in the Ultimate Team.

Shocked Reaction Sparks Outrage

During the live stream, Watkins was taken aback when Manchester United's Hannah Blundell was revealed as the player he had won. He questioned, "Girls? Chat, am I tweaking? Is that a girl?" Fans and onlookers were quick to express their disappointment with Watkins' response.

One observer wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "I'm starting to gather that he doesn't like girls." Another tweet remarked, "Does he know that there are girls who play football too? Also basketball, ice hockey, and baseball. Some other sports too. Not just males." Recognizing a pattern of behavior, a third onlooker commented, "He's acting like he's never interacted with a woman before," while a fourth recalled a past controversy where Watkins disparaged a woman in a game.

Past Incidents Amplify Criticism

This is not the first time Watkins has faced backlash for his actions. In 2021, the YouTuber, who has a staggering 20.3 million subscribers, was permanently banned from playing all Riot Games titles after a sexist rant while streaming Valorant went viral. Fellow YouTuber Jake Lucky criticized the toxic behavior, tweeting, "I now understand why Valorant queues are so unbelievably toxic. You got one of the most popular streamers on YouTube, IShowSpeed, saying crap like this and getting nothing but praise and laughs."

Furthermore, Watkins was banned from Twitch last year for violating the platform's policy against sexual coercion or intimidation.

Divided Opinions

While many condemned Watkins' reaction, others expressed sympathy towards him. However, there were also commentators who seized the opportunity to propagate sexist rhetoric, claiming that "nobody wants to see women playing football." One person commented, "Imagine you spend real-life money hoping to get Messi, and boom, you're stuck with a random female." Another tweet criticized the inclusion of female players in Ultimate Team as one of EA's worst ideas in recent memory.

Amidst these differing opinions, one thing is certain: IShowSpeed's latest controversy has ignited a debate about sexism and representation in the gaming community.