Twitch Deletes PogChamp Emote Because It's Now The Face Of ...

Skip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.

The VergeThe Verge logo.
• Tech
• Reviews
• Science
• Entertainment
• AI
• Policy
• Hamburger Navigation Button

The homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.

• Login / Sign Up

closeCloseSearch

• TechExpand
  • Amazon
  • Apple
  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Microsoft
  • Samsung
  • Business
  • See all tech
• ReviewsExpand
  • Smart Home Reviews
  • Phone Reviews
  • Tablet Reviews
  • Headphone Reviews
  • See all reviews
• ScienceExpand
  • Space
  • Energy
  • Environment
  • Health
  • See all science
• EntertainmentExpand
  • TV Shows
  • Movies
  • Audio
  • See all entertainment
• AIExpand
  • OpenAI
  • Anthropic
  • See all AI
• PolicyExpand
  • Antitrust
  • Politics
  • Law
  • Security
  • See all policy
• GadgetsExpand
  • Laptops
  • Phones
  • TVs
  • Headphones
  • Speakers
  • Wearables
  • See all gadgets
• Verge ShoppingExpand
  • Buying Guides
  • Deals
  • Gift Guides
  • See all shopping
• GamingExpand
  • Xbox
  • PlayStation
  • Nintendo
  • See all gaming
• StreamingExpand
  • Disney
  • HBO
  • Netflix
  • YouTube
  • Creators
  • See all streaming
• TransportationExpand
  • Electric Cars
  • Autonomous Cars
  • Ride-sharing
  • Scooters
  • See all transportation
• Features
• Verge VideoExpand
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
• PodcastsExpand
  • Decoder
  • The Vergecast
  • Version History
• NewslettersExpand
  • The Verge Daily
  • Installer
  • Verge Deals
  • Notepad
  • Optimizer
  • Regulator
  • The Stepback
• Archives
• Store
• Verge Product Updates

Subscribe

• Facebook
• Threads
• Instagram
• Youtube
• RSS

The VergeThe Verge logo.Twitch deletes PogChamp emote because it’s now the face of ‘further violence’Comments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...

• PolicyClosePolicy

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Policy

• NewsCloseNews

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All News

• TechCloseTech

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Tech

Twitch deletes PogChamp emote because it’s now the face of ‘further violence’

Twitch says it will work with its community to make a new emote

Twitch says it will work with its community to make a new emote

by Makena KellyCloseMakena KellyPolicy ReporterLast published Nov 8, 2023

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

FollowFollow

See All by Makena Kelly

Jan 7, 2021, 2:58 AM UTC

• Link
• Share
• Gift

Illustration by Alex Castro / The VergeMakena KellyCloseMakena Kelly

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

FollowFollow

See All by Makena Kelly

is a reporter who covers the politics and power influencing the tech industry. Before joining The Verge in 2018, she covered Congress and breaking news.

Twitch banned the popular PogChamp emote Wednesday after the person depicted in it published tweets “encouraging further violence” following a riot at the US Capitol.

“We’ve made the decision to remove the PogChamp emote following statements from the face of the emote encouraging further violence after what took place in the Capitol today,” Twitch said in a statement Wednesday evening. “We want the sentiment and use of Pog to live on — its meaning is much bigger than the person depicted or image itself — and it has a big place in Twitch culture. However, we can’t in good conscience continue to enable use of the image.”

The PogChamp emote is one of the oldest on Twitch and is widely used by viewers to display excitement in stream chats. PogChamp, or “poggers,” has become synonymous with gaming culture and streaming platforms like Twitch due to its popularity. “Poggers,” the shortened version of the emote, has taken off as a general meme expressing surprise over the last few years.

Twitch’s decision to ban PogChamp was made after the face depicted in the emote, professional Street Fighter player Ryan “Gootecks” Gutierrez, published tweets Wednesday questioning whether more “civil unrest” would take place after a woman was shot at the Capitol. Earlier Wednesday, pro-Trump protesters stormed the Capitol building, delaying a vote to certify the results of the 2020 election.

“We will work with the community to design a new emote for the most hype moments on Twitch,” Twitch said on Twitter Wednesday.

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.

• Makena KellyCloseMakena KellyPolicy ReporterLast published Nov 8, 2023

  Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All by Makena Kelly

• CreatorsCloseCreators

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Creators

• NewsCloseNews

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All News

• PolicyClosePolicy

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Policy

• SpeechCloseSpeech

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Speech

• TechCloseTech

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Tech

• TwitchCloseTwitch

  Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

  FollowFollow

  See All Twitch

Most Popular

Most Popular

1. Discord will require a face scan or ID for full access next month
2. Amazon Ring’s Super Bowl ad sparks backlash amid fears of mass surveillance
3. The Toyota Highlander is now a three-row electric SUV with 320 miles of range
4. Nintendo keeps filling in the gaps
5. Discord says ‘vast majority’ of users won’t see its new age verification setup

The Verge Daily

A free daily digest of the news that matters most.

Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad

More in Policy

El Paso flights resume after Mexican cartel drones reportedly trigger airspace closureBezos could have saved The Washington Post’s local news and sports reportersTrump’s new ‘Buy American’ requirement for EV charging would dramatically curtail build-outTelegram is reportedly being slowed down and restricted in RussiaJeffrey Epstein’s digital cleanup crewAutodesk is suing Google over the name of its Flow AI videomakerEl Paso flights resume after Mexican cartel drones reportedly trigger airspace closureDominic Preston1:11 PM UTCBezos could have saved The Washington Post’s local news and sports reportersTina NguyenFeb 10Trump’s new ‘Buy American’ requirement for EV charging would dramatically curtail build-outAndrew J. HawkinsFeb 10Telegram is reportedly being slowed down and restricted in RussiaStevie BonifieldFeb 10Jeffrey Epstein’s digital cleanup crewMia SatoFeb 10Autodesk is suing Google over the name of its Flow AI videomakerEmma RothFeb 10Advertiser Content From

This is the title for the native ad

Top Stories

11:00 AM UTC‘Shut up and focus on the mission’: Tech workers are frustrated by their companies’ silence about ICE2:00 PM UTCPokopia turns the Pokémon world into a relaxing, human-free paradise1:17 AM UTCWill Ring’s pet finding cameras eventually track people?2:06 PM UTCHow an ‘icepocalypse’ raises more questions about Meta’s biggest data center project2:00 PM UTCThe Halide app’s anti-algorithm camera mode looks better with a little processingFeb 10Jeffrey Epstein’s digital cleanup crew