A popular video game streamer has revealed that he avoids playing against female gamers out of respect for his wife.
Tyler Blevins, better known by his streaming name Ninja, refuses to engage with female players to stop any rumours arising about his relationship with them.
In an interview with gaming site Polygon, he said: “If I have one conversation with one female streamer where we’re playing with one another, and even if there’s a hint of flirting, that is going to be taken and going to be put on every single video and be clickbait forever.”
Ninja is married to fellow streamer Jessica “Jghosty” Blevins, who often appears on his channel with him.
He said he is happy to be open about how “devoted” he is to their relationship, and that his wife had no input in his decision.
“That was not even her. She had nothing to do with it,” he said.
“That was me being ‘I love our relationship,’ and ‘No — I’m not even gonna put you through that’.”
Blevins was the first creator on streaming site Twitch to reach 10 million followers and has seen his comments spark debate within the gaming community.
His decision has been criticised by some; however, fellow streamer Valkyrae said she respected a decision to “limit drama in people’s personal lives”.
Seeing tweets twisting Ninja’s decision to not playing w/ women.YouTube clips/clickbaits the worst for views.People are gullible.To hear rumors like “I heard he’s cheating on you” is 24/7 toxic to a relationship.Respect decisions that limit drama in people’s personal lives 🙄
— Valkyrae (@Valkyrae) August 11, 2018
Ninja has since taken to Twitter to further clarify his comments, saying they were a way of addressing the online harassment that streamers and public figures face.
Please read. pic.twitter.com/egfplBQFYD
— Ninja (@Ninja) August 13, 2018
“While I understand some people have implied my views mean I have something against playing with women, I want to make clear the issue I’m addressing is online harassment, and my attempt to minimise it from our life,” he said.
It is something that affects all streamers, especially ones that make their relationship public. I wanted to bring attention to this issue and my comments should not be characterised as anything beyond that.”