Deadmau5 Offers Damage Control Apology After Using Homophobic Slur On Twitch?

Joel Zimmerman, better known by his stage name Deadmau5, ended up being another unfortunate example highlighting the homophobia present in the gaming community. While he previously wasn’t backing down from the homophobic slurs he used, the 38-year-old has released a statement on the issue, which I guess is supposed to be an apology?

I’m all for Twitch weeding out toxicity from the gaming content it showcases. Now, we can all debate how the process isn’t perfect yet. However, I applaud Twitch for putting in the effort to ensure gaming on the platform is as inclusive as possible for everyone.

Joel Zimmerman is the most recent example of Twitch coming down on a big name. After he was reported for using homophobic slurs during a PUBG stream, Zimmerman doubled down on a now deleted Reddit post saying he was quitting the platform after getting temporarily suspended.

According to reports, Zimmerman’s PUBG character was shot, which led him to say “Is that some f*king c*ck-sucking stream sniper,” followed by the word f*g.

Twitch issued a temporary suspension and the 38-year-old Zimmerman decided to throw a tantrum. “I’m not going to stand for Twitch’s double standard when it comes to censoring and suspending me for harmless shit,” Deadmau5 wrote in his non-apology.

The man-crying debacle is so bad. I can’t even!

Of course, certain people came to defend him saying the slurs he used were just empty words. Some even said Twitch was banning free speech.

I can’t with such people. The gaming community needs a lot of improvement, and I hope there comes a time where everyone can get along or at least have the decency to not use such slurs under the guise of free speech.

Also, take note this wasn’t the DJ’s first time getting into such trouble. He apologized for making homophobic and transphobic remarks in a “heated” moment last October.

Anyway, Deadmau5 has released a new statement about his previous non-apology on Reddit. He begins by saying damage control asked him not to make a statement, which… Sure, Jan.

“Damage control” had asked me not to make a statement. But, I would rather you hear it from me, in my own words. You deserve that.

I needed a little cool down there for a few and seriously reflect on all this. I know what I said was wrong, and my hastily composed non-apology was an insult to injury. I realize that trying to somewhat dismiss it as “gamer culture” was even worse. I don’t know why I did that. But I do know it was stupid and insensitive and I feel even more ashamed. This was my worst moment.

As for twitch, they had every right to ban me for that, it was clearly in violation of their terms, even if it wasn’t … it was all around an incredibly irresponsible and insensitive thing to say nonetheless. Especially for someone who has a reach. What I said was incredibly stupid, and I don’t actually hold those beliefs, at all. I let some gamer get the best of me, and in that moment I completely lost control. And me lashing back with some knee-jerk post about how it may have seemed unjustified… was completely unfair to twitch and its viewers. So I apologize for that as well.

You can go ahead and read his entire statement on Reddit if you want.

Feel free to share your thoughts about Joel Zimmerman/Deadmau5 with us.

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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