Twitch streamer Pokimane has found herself in another round of internet drama this week after revisiting the 2023 deepfake controversy involving fellow streamer Atrioc. However, what started as an attempt to explain why the incident still makes her uncomfortable quickly turned into a debate about who actually caused more harm.
The latest backlash came after X users circulated claims suggesting Pokimane had done more damage by showing images connected to the deepfake website than Atrioc did when he accidentally revealed deepfaked images of her during his livestream. The discussion eventually reached X Community Notes, where a correction appeared to challenge the streamer's account of what happened.
So @pokimanelol showed more AI porn of her fellow "coworkers" on stream than @Atrioc ever did in his original scandal (which was 0, because it was just a url)Is she gonna step away from streaming so her fellow creators don't feel uncomfortable and victimized? https://t.co/hpMgSU2zDj
— Moldbud (@moldbud) October 29, 2026
@Fernand54461381 @niquijr this is not true, it was a tab preview, meaning you could see what was on the page. what i showed on my stream was a screenshot of the original incident, but censored so it would not show anything explicit.
— pokimane (@pokimanelol) October 29, 2026
In response, Pokimane pushed back against the claims, writing, 'This is not true,' while explaining that the images she showed were censored screenshots of the original incident.
Why Pokimane Brought Up Atrioc Again
The renewed discussion began during a 25 October livestream, when Pokimane opened up about seeing Atrioc at the wedding of fellow streamers Ludwig and QTCinderella. She admitted that seeing his face or hearing his name still caused her considerable discomfort and anxiety.
Atrioc faced widespread backlash in January 2023 after accidentally revealing a browser tab connected to a website featuring explicit AI-generated images of female streamers, including Pokimane. The incident sparked widespread criticism, particularly because the women featured in the images had not consented to their creation.
Atrioc subsequently apologised and reportedly invested significant money into efforts to remove the material from the internet. However, Pokimane explained that the passage of time had not necessarily made the experience easier. She also found it difficult seeing people close to her socialising with someone connected to an incident that personally affected her.
In a subsequent 26 October post, she reminded followers that the specific page visible during Atrioc's original livestream featured her. She explained that she had said very little at the time because she felt uncomfortable and publicly humiliated.
Pokimane also acknowledged Atrioc's efforts to address the situation, including his offer of $3,000 towards removing the deepfake material. However, she claimed she had personally spent hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting the same issue.
'No amount of money undoes what happened,' she wrote.
Pokimane Pushes Back Against X Community Notes
hi everyone, i want to clarify some things about what i said on stream yesterday.1) when he was first caught looking at paywalled, deepfake content of female streamers, it seems people forgot that the specific page shown on his stream was of me.i didn't say much at the time because i was so uncomfortable, publicly humiliated, and i didn't think it needed explaining because it was so obviously wrong.2) i appreciate that he spent thousands of dollars helping remove ai/df content (3000$ of which was offered to me specifically), but i've had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars towards that same effort. regardless, no amount of money undoes what happened.3) i'm not trying to cancel anyone or be the arbiter of who can do what. i'm simply sharing my feelings about something that publicly happened to me, and the ways in which it's affecting me today.as he's become more involved in events and with people close to me, i've grown particularly uncomfortable. as far as i know, no one has really checked in with the women affected about how it makes them feel. other people forgiving him is their choice, but it doesn't mean i can't share my perspective on it as well.one thing i've seen happen far too often is the rewriting of history, particularly as it pertains to issues like these, so i prefer to stand my ground so the narrative doesn't get twisted. hope this clarifies things!
— pokimane (@pokimanelol) October 26, 2026
The controversy picked up after Pokimane addressed the criticism surrounding her comments about Atrioc and the 2023 incident. According to the streamer, the Community Notes discussion misrepresented what happened during the original livestreams.
She clarified that what viewers saw on her stream was a censored screenshot documenting the incident, not an uncensored display of explicit material. She also disputed the suggestion that she had shown a full-size version of the deepfake website while Atrioc had only exposed a small browser preview.
Her response brought another layer of debate to an already complicated situation, with users questioning how the original incident was being represented years later. However, not everyone was focused on the screenshots. Some fans shifted attention back to Pokimane's right to decide how she felt about the experience.
'don't let anyone tell you what should and shouldn't make you personally uncomfortable,' one supporter wrote.
@pokimanelol don’t let anyone tell you what should and shouldn’t make you personally uncomfortable
— M1das (@M1das_OW2) October 26, 2026
Another user highlighted why the incident could have lasting consequences for the women involved, arguing that the issue went beyond an embarrassing livestream moment. 'women in the scene ESPECIALLY because they already have to deal with so much nonconsensual sexualization,' they wrote.
@pokimanelol Someone who paid for and consumed tons of deepfake porn of friends & colleagues crosses an unforgivable line for many people, women in the scene ESPECIALLY because they already have to deal with so much nonconsensual sexualization.
— 39daph (@39daph) October 26, 2026
Pokimane later provided further clarification on October 29, explaining that the screenshot shown during her livestream was a censored version of what had appeared on Atrioc's original broadcast. She also revealed that she had made the VOD private after recognising that even showing the material in censored form could cause harm.
to further clarify, the screenshot i showed on stream was a censored version of what was shown on Atrioc's stream. it wasn't anything he hadn't already shown and the site can no longer be accessed as it was taken down a couple years ago.there's been a lot of misunderstanding of what's happened and sadly i felt that the gravity of the situation wouldn't have been understood or believed if i didn't show the initial incident (though censored). i privated the vod because i now understand the harm even that can cause.i've talked about this directly with the women affected, even before i made my first statement, because their feelings are and have been incredibly important to me as someone who has gone through the same thing. i've been continuously encouraged by them to share my experience and feelings (and doing my best to be mindful of them throughout). for that i'm very grateful because it feels really difficult to be in a situation where people either don't know or forgot about something that felt traumatizing.
— pokimane (@pokimanelol) October 29, 2026
Pokimane Says She Is Not Trying to Cancel Atrioc
Pokimane also pushed back against the idea that she was demanding Atrioc's cancellation or telling other streamers whom they could invite to social events. Instead, she questioned whether the women affected by the original controversy had been consulted about how they felt seeing him become more involved in their social circles.
She acknowledged that other people were free to forgive Atrioc but maintained that their decisions did not invalidate her own feelings. Atrioc, meanwhile, responded to her comments by acknowledging that her discomfort was valid and expressing continued regret over his actions.
He said he could not undo what happened and was trying to demonstrate through his actions that the incident did not define him. However, he also defended Ludwig and QTCinderella's decision to invite him to their wedding.
The exchange has once again divided online audiences, with some questioning why the controversy is being revisited while others argue that an apology does not automatically erase the experience of those affected.
