Streamer Emiru attended a meet-and-greet at TwitchCon 2025 in San Diego when a spectator bypassed barriers and attempted to grab her face and kiss her without consent. Security footage shows her stepping back as her personal bodyguard intervened, while event staff and platform representatives faced criticism for not stepping in.
In response to the incident, Twitch issued a statement saying the attacker was immediately removed from the event, banned from future in-person gatherings and barred from the platform. Emiru, however, challenged that version of events, calling parts of the statement misleading and describing the on-site response as belated and inadequate.
Security concerns at public events
This incident has sparked further discussion about the effectiveness of safety protocols at major creator-focused gatherings. Meet-and-greets are designed to connect creators with fans in controlled spaces; however, when boundaries are crossed and access fails, the situation can quickly become unsafe. Many streamers and their teams are now voicing doubt about whether existing TwitchCon’s security measures are adequate to protect both creators and attendees.
Valkyrae shared her frustration on X, writing, “It’s awful that TwitchCon safety concerns were an issue even before the event, but they still didn’t take it seriously.”
VTuber Kharrma Sierra also spoke out. She wrote, “If the person who assaulted Emiru had any kind of weapon this entire statement would be how sorry you are that someone passed away at your convention.”
Emiru’s public statement that she does not plan to attend another TwitchCon reflects how such experiences can affect trust between creators and event organizers.
Emiru has confirmed that she will press charges against the attacker.
How Twitch responded
Twitch has announced plans to add more on-site security, revoke plus-one guest passes for the remainder of the event and coordinate more closely with law enforcement. However, the community argued that these actions are reactive rather than proactive and may not address root issues such as crowd control, access escalation and real-time incident prevention. They added that real improvements will depend on stronger screening systems, clearer incident procedures and better training for staff handling live interactions.
As in-person experiences continue to grow across the streaming industry, success will depend not only on attendance but also on how responsibly these spaces safeguard creators, fans and the reputation of the communities they represent.
Featured image courtesy: Emiru