YouTube Suspends Monetization on Dr Disrespect’s Channel ‘Following Serious Allegations’

YouTube has formally suspended monetization on the channel of Man Beahm, the favored streamer often known as Dr Disrespect, amid continuing reports surrounding his 2020 ban from Twitch and his alleged sexually specific messages to a minor.

“We’ve suspended DrDisrespect’s channel from the YouTube Associate Program following critical allegations towards the creator,” a YouTube spokesperson stated in an announcement to IGN. “This motion means the channel is now not in a position to monetize on YouTube.”

YouTube added that it took the motion on Beahm’s channel “for violating our Creator Responsibility policy.” The coverage, because the spokesperson notes, implies that if a creator’s off-platform conduct “harms our customers, workers, or ecosystem, we could take motion to guard our group, together with by suspending monetization.” The creator can also be unable to create new or alternate channels whereas their present channel is suspended from the YouTube Associate Program.

YouTube’s affirmation comes after a number of on social media identified on Thursday night that Beahm’s channel now not had monetization options accessible, together with paid memberships. It additionally follows per week of steady new particulars surrounding the circumstances of Beahm’s ban from Twitch in 2020.

Final Friday, former Twitch worker Cody Conners wrote in a put up on X/Twitter that Beahm was banned from the streaming platform virtually precisely 4 years in the past for “sexting” a minor by way of Twitch’s Whispers function and making an attempt to fulfill up with them at TwitchCon (Disclosure: Conners labored briefly at IGN in 2011). Whereas Conners did not point out Beahm by title, studies in The Verge and Bloomberg confirmed that he was certainly referring to the favored streamer, corroborating Conners’ account and offering additional particulars.

The latest report got here earlier on Thursday by way of Rolling Stone, wherein one other former Twitch worker instructed the outlet that Beahm knew the minor he was messaging was underage, and continued to ship them sexually specific messages anyway. The report additionally quoted Ryan Wyatt, former world head of gaming partnerships at Google, who stated that YouTube Gaming did not provide a contract to Beahm because of the rumors surrounding his Twitch ban.

For his half, Beahm issued a lengthy statement on the allegations on X/Twitter on Tuesday, admitting that he did message a minor by way of Twitch Whispers in 2017, and that these messages “generally leaned an excessive amount of within the path of being inappropriate.” He added, nevertheless, that “nothing unlawful occurred, no footage have been shared, no crimes have been dedicated,” and in addition pointed to his 2021 lawsuit against Twitch over the ban, which was resolved in 2022.

Twitch has remained silent on the revelations in latest days regardless of a number of requests for remark. At the moment’s assertion marks the primary public touch upon the scenario from YouTube, the place Beahm has streamed for the final a number of years. Beahm final streamed on Monday, the place he famous he could be taking an prolonged trip, however stated in his assertion on Tuesday that he would return.

Whereas it is uncommon for YouTube to take such de-monetization actions towards a big channel like Beahm’s, it isn’t unprecedented. Beforehand, the platform has utilized the coverage on channels of different in style creators together with Russell Brand, David Dobrik, and James Charles.

The suspension is simply the most recent within the persevering with fallout in response to the allegations surrounding Beahm and his ban from Twitch. Beforehand, companions and sponsors like Turtle Seashore, 2K, and the San Francisco 49ers cut ties with the streamer, and Midnight Society, the sport studio Beahm co-founded, additionally terminated its relationship with him.

Thumbnail credit score: Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photos

Alex Stedman is a Senior Information Editor with IGN, overseeing leisure reporting. When she’s not writing or modifying, you’ll find her studying fantasy novels or taking part in Dungeons & Dragons.