Popular RuneScape streamer banned for using homophobic slur

Popular Twitch streamer Alfred ‘Alfie’ Loera has been banned from the platform after using a homophobic slur during a recent RuneScape broadcast.

Twitch is known for its heavily-policed Community Guidelines, and has no qualms swinging the ban hammer if any user breaks them, regardless of popularity. Take Dr Disrespect’s recent ban for streaming in a public bathroom as an example.

Bans usually last either 24 hours, three days, or 30 days depending on the severity of the offense, and whether the user has faced repercussions previously. RuneScape streamer Alfie has seemingly been banned permanently from the platform after his 24-hour ban earlier this year for a racist text-to-speech donation.

What did Alfie do?

During his RuneScape stream, Alfie was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, which led him to break Twitch’s Community Guidelines by using a homophobic slur. It’s not the first time RuneScape streamers have broken the rules.

It’s not entirely clear what Alfie was doing when he was broadcasting, but it seems as though he could have been talking to a friend, as he said “you told me to call you back” before looking at his camera and exclaiming loudly, “suck a dick, F-word.” (The word in question is a derogatory slur for a homosexual person, and we do not wish to repeat it here.)

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The person in the room with him immediately winced, shouting “OOOOH” before Alfie put his hands to his mouth in shock and sunk to the floor, stating, “I didn’t say that, I’m sorry! Fuck! No! I didn’t mean to say it!”

(Viewers be warned that the following clip includes NSFW and very offensive language.)

There were mixed reactions

Reactions to Alfie’s ban were mixed, with the streamer himself tweeting, “I believe I’m permanently banned from twitch, who do I talk to from staff to find out more details and to try to appeal. I didn’t mean to. please somebody help.”

Support from fans poured in from all over the internet, with many unsure of why he’d allegedly received a permanent Twitch ban instead of a three or 30 day ban instead.

“People get banned for saying that?! That’s ridiculous. I don’t understand how people can get so offended BY A WORD,” one Reddit user said. 

“Because in marketing image is everything and advertisers don’t want to be associated with people that use homophobic slurs, which makes perfect sense. Alfie knew the rules, broke them repeatedly, and got punished,” another user argued.

Controversial YouTuber and fellow streamer Paul ‘ICE POSEIDON‘ Denino was quick to jump to Alfie’s defense, tweeting, “[Hope] you get this figured out, you’re too nice of a dude for this punishment lol.”

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The YouTuber has been embroiled in a few controversies of his own, and is certainly no stranger to internet criticism.

Some people weren’t so forgiving, with one disgruntled person replying to a fan who blamed his use of the slur on a ‘heated gamer moment’ with, “if it’s your first compulsion to say slurs in a heated moment it says something about you as a human, in videogames or otherwise.”

It is currently unclear as to how long Alfie’s ban will be for, whether it’s a 30-day or actually permanent. Twitch is very strict with their Community Guidelines, and if it’s not his first ban then it wouldn’t be surprising if they don’t let him come back.