Amazon’s Twitch has helped build the careers of online celebrities who livestream video of themselves for hours at a time and can bring in millions of dollars a year. Now, a controversial new platform is crafting deals and attracting top talent, and it’s dividing the livestreaming industry.
Félix “xQc” Lengyel and Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa were two of Twitch’s biggest stars. Between them, they amassed nearly 20 million followers on Twitch alone. But in June, both left the streaming giant for lucrative contracts with a rival platform, Kick, which boasts looser moderation policies and practices. They left amid an exodus of popular Twitch creators that continues despite criticism over the personalities Kick has attracted and reports that it has ties to gambling industry figures and influencers.
