Stranger Issues Streamer Talks Toxicity After FaZe Clan Fiasco

In Grace Van Dien’s first on-line look since her signing with gaming influencer crew FaZe Clan ignited a whirlwind of drama and misogyny, the Stranger Issues actor turned Twitch streamer sat down with Name of Obligation content material maker Ashtronova to debate toxicity in gaming. The dialog seems to be the primary episode of a brand new YouTube sequence referred to as Two Ladies Speaking, and the 2 opened up in regards to the abuse non-male avid gamers face within the area.

“There have been different woman avid gamers I used to be pals with and it was simply sorta you needed to just about be like a ‘pickme’ to have the ability to slot in,” Ashtronova mentioned. “You needed to settle for the toxicity and do it again to point out that you just’re cool, such as you’re one of many bros in any other case nobody needs to be pals with you nobody needs to play with you since you’re ‘delicate.’”

Requested by Van Dien for one of many worst experiences she’s needed to face in her streaming profession, Ashtronova recalled her first signing with a gaming group, when considered one of her teammates on the time apparently responded to the information by tweeting “I need to cum in your tits.” She mentioned she left the group instantly after.

Van Dien was just lately on the heart of a pile-on by offended avid gamers when FaZe Clan, the esports group turned influencer model turned inventory trade dud, introduced her as its latest signing. Some longtime members together with FaZe Rain claimed it as proof the corporate was out of contact and promoting out, whereas additionally denigrating and dismissing Van Dien within the course of.

The controversy culminated in Rain and the previous Stranger Issues actor sitting down in individual to debate the backlash, just for her to go away in tears and for Rain to submit footage of the encounter on YouTube with play-by-play commentary. Van Dien briefly set her Twitter account to non-public as FaZe Clan followers continued raging, and has since eliminated the corporate’s identify from her profile data. A spokesperson for the corporate didn’t instantly affirm if she remains to be a member.

“After we do name them out, the individuals on this neighborhood, most of the people on this neighborhood, they once more, like we’ve been saying they don’t like delicate individuals,” Van Dien informed Ashtronova. “And if you happen to’re delicate the entire sudden meaning you’re victimizing your self and it’s like ‘no I’d simply be delicate particularly to sexist, degrading feedback and that’s okay.’”

Video gaming, like many industries, has traditionally been male dominated, typically leading to workplaces which are overtly antagonistic towards ladies. And gaming, like many on-line fandoms, has traditionally been unwelcoming to anybody from a marginalized background. The esports neighborhood has been significantly gradual to evolve. FaZe Clan apologized last July for a misogynistic tweet by its Name of Obligation group.

“I’m so bored with loading into video games and I’ll simply be like oh they’re on B-site, like I’ll say that in my mic,” Van Dien mentioned throughout her new video. “And instantly it’s a man laughing and being like, ‘Did I inform you you may open your mouth, you may solely open your mouth if I’m unzipping my pants and also you’re in your knees.’”

On the finish of her dialog with Ashtronova, she invited the Name of Obligation streamer to get a short lived Medusa tattoo along with her. The determine from Greek mythology began trending final fall as a logo of sexual assault survivors pushing again in opposition to the vilification or blame that usually accompanies talking out about abuse. Final 12 months, Ashtronova accused then-FaZe Clan member Mew of sexual misconduct. He denied the accusations however was later dropped by the group whereas it investigated the claims.