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Twitch and Fortnite streaming star Ninja in racial slur controversy

Twitch and Fortnite streaming star Ninja in racial slur controversy

Update: Ninja has apologisedfor using the racial slur and called it a "misunderstanding".

Original story: Ninja, whose current annual income is somewhere around $6 million, has become the latest video creator to become embroiled in a racism controversy.

In the clip, which you can see here, Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins and streaming partner Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag were listening to Logic track ‘44 More’. At one stage Blevins begins to ad-lib, during which he says the n-word twice – despite the fact that it was not present in the original lyrics.

Blevins seems to stumble on the word, perhaps aware of what was happening, while Haag’s eyebrows visibly heighten in dismay.

While the term wasn't used directly to insult another player, use of the term is unnecessary for one of the most popular streamers in the world and contributes to the normalisation of its use.

This has to stop

What’s more disappointing is that while we have sadly come to expect this sort of behaviour from some of the huge internet stars our kids look up to, Ninja has very much until now come across as one of the good ones.

For many Ninja had served as much needed proof that the YouTube and streaming generation can offer up positive role models.

What has happened now doesn’t necessarily change that – although it undoubtedly and understandably will for many people.

It most definitely tarnishes Ninja’s name, however, and should it ever happen again Blevins could start seeing that monthly revenue quickly decreasing.

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