Destiny Twitch ban row: What did the streamer say about Charlie Kirk? Elon Musk raises concern

Streamer Destiny was banned from Twitch after refusing to condemn Charlie Kirk’s killing, sparking backlash and Elon Musk’s call for his arrest.

Published on: Sep 17, 2025, 03:02:00 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Streamer Destiny's comments on the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk have sparked a row. So much so that it led to the streamers' ban from Twitch, he announced sharing a statement from the streaming platform.

Charlie Kirk (L) and streamer Destiny (R) (AP and Destiny on X)

Steven Bonnell II, who goes by Destiny on streaming platforms, appeared on Piers Morgan Uncensored and commented on Kirk's fatal shooting by 22-year-old suspect, Tyler Robinson, at Utah Valley University on September 9.

He refused to condemn the killing, saying that activists associated with the conservative movement should be “afraid of getting killed.”

The comments have faced backlash on social media, including comments by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Musk called for the streamer to be arrested. Eventually, Twitch issued a statement to him saying that he has been banned from the platform over ‘Hateful Conduct.’

What exactly did Destiny say?

Destiny appeared with a host of other guests on a panel on the Piers Morgan Uncensored, the popular show hosted by British TV host, Piers Morgan. When asked about the killing of Kirk, Destiny said that he conservatives need to "turn the temperature down" for shooting like these to stop.

"I think that the only way this country moves forward into a better world is when Conservatives can finally realize that they need to turn the temperature down on their side," Destiny said. "We are 10 years into whatever this Trump madness is, and there is not a single mainstream Conservative that will call for a lowering of the temperature on their side. I think that liberals need to wake up and finally realize that if they're not willing to do it, it will never come down.

Also read: Streamer Destiny sparks outrage after refusing to condemn Charlie Kirk's murder

"If you wanted Charlie Kirk to be alive, Donald Trump shouldn't have been president for the second term. Every time he's in office, this happens. People joked about when Biden came in, it was so boring, nothing was going on."

Elon Musk Slams Destiny

Billionaire Elon Musk has called for Destiny to be imprisoned for the comments he made about Charlie Kirk. "He can resume streaming when he has served his term," Musk said in a post on X. "Let him say what he wants, but then also pay the price under the law."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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