A renowned streamer and cosplayer has raised concerns about inadequate security at a streaming convention on Friday after an unsettling encounter with an overzealous fan.
During Emiru’s meet-and-greet session at TwitchCon in San Diego, an event where prominent streamers interact with their supporters, she was reportedly subjected to an unwanted approach.
Footage circulating online captures the moment when she engaged with a fan, only for a tall man in a plaid shirt and blue jeans to seemingly bypass the queue.
The man proceeded to grab Emiru’s face, pulling her towards him in what appeared to be an attempt to kiss her, prompting her to cry out for assistance.
Before the situation could escalate further, a security guard, whom Emiru had personally hired, intervened by pushing the man away and escorting him out of the vicinity.
Following the incident, Twitch issued a statement confirming that security and law enforcement had been notified. The individual involved has been permanently banned from attending future in-person events and accessing the platform.
‘The safety and security of all those attending TwitchCon is our highest priority,’ the site said. ‘The behavior displayed by the individual in the incident yesterday involving a high-profile streamer was completely unacceptable and deeply upsetting.’
‘We are coordinating with the impacted creator’s team and, per our standard protocols, continue to operate with any law enforcement investigations,’ it continued, adding that Twitch has ‘zero tolerance for harassment or acts that inhibit the safety and security of our community.’
Emiru, a popular streamer on Twitch, has claimed there was a lack of security at TwitchCon when she was assaulted by a fan on Friday
The streamer was holding a meet-and-greet with fans when an unidentified man apparently cut the line and grabbed her face in an apparent attempt to kiss her
One of her security guards was seen shoving the man aside
It went on to say that it will increase security at meet-and-greet events moving forward this weekend.
‘It’s really important to us that our creators enjoy their experience at TwitchCon and feel safe,’ the site said.
‘We regret that their experience was disrupted by this horrible incident.’
But Emiru has claimed there was a lack of security at the event, telling her followers on social media: ‘I’m obviously shaken up by at happened, and it’s not the first time I’ve dealt with something like this, but to tell you honestly, I am a lot more hurt and upset by how Twitch handled it during and after the fact.’
She claimed ‘there were at least three or four other TwitchCon security staff in the area who did not react and let the guy walk away, as you can see in the clip, since they don’t even appear in the frame.’
Emiru also claimed that the man was able to ‘cross multiple barriers at TwitchCon and even in front of another creator’s meet-and-greet to grab me and my face and try to kiss me.’
She added that the convention’s security staff did not attempt to stop the man after her own security fended him off.
‘In Twitch’s statement, they said that the guy was immediately caught and detained,’ the streamer wrote. ‘I’m sorry, but that is a blatant lie.’
Emiru told her 857,000 followers that this will be her last TwitchCon
‘He was allowed to walk away from my meet-and-greet and I didn’t hear that he was caught until hours after he attacked me, and it felt like this only happened because of my manager pressing for it, not because TwitchCon staff present thought it was a big deal.’
Emiru went on to note that ‘none of the TwitchCon staff came to ask what happened or if I was OK.
‘My friend who was present told me Twitch security ere also behind the booth afterwards, joking about how they didn’t even see what happened and immediately laughing and moving on to talking about something else
‘So if no one was checking if I was OK or if I needed anything and they let the guy run away initially, I have no idea what anyone hired to keep the event safe was doing.’
It was not her first time her first time facing security concerns at the convention, either.
Emiru has previously said that on a different occasion two years ago, her personal security guard briefly held a man following her around the convention.
But because that man did not actually touch anyone, he was not permanently banned from in-person events. Instead, Emiru said, the security guard who held him back was.
‘This is definitely my last TwitchCon and it saddens me to say as a 10 year off-and-on attendee of TwitchCon, I think other creators should seriously consider not attending in the future,’ she told her more than 857,000 followers on X.
‘I did not feel cared for or protected, even bringing my own security and staff,’ she added. ‘I can’t imagine how creators without those options would feel.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Twitch and San Diego police for comment.
