Dr Disrespect Opens Up About Twitch Ban Impact: Lost Deals with Nike and Oakley

by Pooja Chauhan · 10/04/2024

Dr Disrespect Opens Up About Twitch Ban Impact: Lost Deals with Nike and Oakley

Dr Disrespect opened up about the challenging period following his Twitch ban, noting the significant impact it had on his career, including the loss of potential “big sponsorships,” such as a collaboration with Nike.

In June 2020, Dr Disrespect found himself indefinitely banned from Twitch, with the details surrounding the suspension remaining vague to this day.

Dr Disrespect Opens Up About Twitch Ban Impact: Lost Deals with Nike and Oakley

Despite generally keeping quiet about the situation, Dr Disrespect has subtly expressed his thoughts on the matter, like when he sent his Steel Bourbon to chess grandmaster GM Hikaru after Hikaru faced a Twitch ban for streaming Dr Disrespect’s content.

On April 8, 2024, nearly four years post-ban, Dr Disrespect shared more about the repercussions, revealing that he had been in the process of securing major sponsorships that fell through due to the controversy with Twitch.

He specifically mentioned Nike and Oakley, highlighting the significance of these would-be partnerships for any leading streamer, especially someone of his stature.

“It was tough,” he confessed. “That period was difficult. We were in the dark, not knowing the full extent of the situation until a year later. Up until then, we had been building towards something big. We missed out on substantial deals and sponsorships.

“I mean, shoot, we were in talks with Nike, engaging with Oakley. I’m serious, I can show you Oakley prototypes right now. Then, everything turned upside down, and I found myself in an unprecedented situation.”

The ban undeniably had profound effects beyond the loss of his Twitch audience, affecting his professional relationships and potential collaborations. Despite these setbacks, Dr Disrespect has since cultivated a substantial following on YouTube, boasting 4.7 million subscribers.

While the future of his projects with Nike and Oakley remains uncertain, his fans are already envisioning what could have been, from Doc-inspired sneakers to signature sunglasses.