QUEBEC, CANADIAN: In the world of streaming, few names command the same level of respect as Felix ‘xQc’ Lengyel. Known for his quick wit and exceptional gameplay, xQc has amassed a loyal following, with fans who hang on to his every word. So when news broke that xQc had signed a non-exclusive deal with Kick worth up to $100 million, the internet was understandably buzzing with excitement. While many streamers congratulated xQc on his massive payday, others – like Pokimane and Hasan – expressed skepticism about the deal, especially given Kick's ties to a cryptocurrency casino and gambling website.
Pokimane said that she would never sign a deal with the company and called it "cringe". In her opinion, such an agreement would compromise her "morals and ethics." It's a strong stance, one that has drawn both praise and criticism from fans across social media. Similarly, Hasan has expressed his skepticism about the deal, noting that Kick would likely face heightened scrutiny from both creators and the media as it continues to sign bigger and bigger names to its platform. Despite the backlash from some quarters of the streaming community, xQc seems unfazed by the criticism. In fact, in a recent stream, he suggested that both Pokimane and Hasan were afraid that Kick would be successful, which is why they were critical of the deal. It's a bold claim and one that has sparked plenty of discussion among fans and industry insiders alike. Whether or not xQc's assessment is accurate remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure – the controversy surrounding his deal with Kick is far from over.
'They are scared because they might become broke then'
On June 22, 2023, xQc watched Hasan's most recent stream, in which he discussed Felix's Kick contract with YouTuber MoistCr1TiKal. Hasan and Moist were discussing their thoughts about Kick offering contracts to streamers. After learning about xQc's contract with Kick, Moist had previously referred to Twitch as a "sinking ship," while Hasan was concerned about Kick's connection to Stake.
In response to the conversation on the stream, xQc argued that they are scared of Kick becoming a successful platform. “The only reason they’re talking s**t is that they’ve just realized that ‘holy f**k, it might actually work’, and that scares them,” xQc said. “Because if this s**t fails and they pull the plug, all they will have is their morals and ethics in their hands, and f**king nothing else. And not a platform to brag about it anymore," he said, seemingly also taking a jab at Pokimane's previous livestream where she said streaming on Twitch would compromise her "morals and ethics."
“Empty hands, morals, and that should be enough for you. Morals and ethics should be what you care about, right? Not what it comes with then? But it seems like these guys, they want to dip their f**king bread into the sauce, and they want to also eat it then. And there’s a chance they might not be able to do that then if that s**t f**ks up, and that scares them.
“They are afraid, and I’m not gonna say ‘Oh, they’re doing just because they’re broke’, I’m not gonna do that. Actually, I will, yes. They are scared because they might become broke then.”
'I’m disappointed '
According to Pokimane, referred to as the Twitch Queen, Kick generates revenue for Twitch through its use of Amazon's Interactive Video Service as Amazon owns Twitch. In response, Hasan asserted that xQc switched platforms for personal gain, potentially hosting gambling streams, which are prohibited on Twitch.
xQc was quick to respond to the criticism. “If it was only about money, nobody would care. I understand if it was only about money then I wouldn’t be talking about this. I [would have] just turned the stream off and I would ignore all this s**t. There are goals that are past that and people who discredit that are f**king cringe.”
“Hasan is being disingenuous as f**k. I’m disappointed. I’m gonna be honest with you, I’m disappointed. Sorry, Hasan, I’m disappointed. I get it. Protect queen Poki at all costs – means she gets to say whatever she wants and just claim dogs**t and she’s given a free pass because she’s Poki. I get it, Hasan.”
