What started as a bold attempt to shake up Twitch’s male-dominated landscape turned into a chilling real-world reminder of the challenges female streamers face.
Valkyrae and Cinna’s Sis-A-Thon, meant to rival the spectacle of top male streamers like IShowSpeed and Kai Cenat, was cut short after an IRL stream turned into a terrifying harassment incident.
The Sis-A-Thon, launched on February 25, was a marathon-style event showcasing diverse content, from boot camps to fine dining challenges, in an effort to highlight and empower women in streaming.
However, what should have been a celebration of female creators ended with the duo being chased and harassed by a man during a live broadcast at Santa Monica Pier.
While streaming alongside Emiru and Rosie, the group was approached by an aggressive man who repeatedly demanded their phone numbers.
After their refusals, he escalated, following them and eventually lunging at them.
The stream abruptly cut off as they ran for safety, hiding in a store until security intervened.
The distressing moment forced the Sis-A-Thon to end prematurely, leaving Valkyrae and Cinna shaken but safe.
Streaming’s Gender Divide: Is the Industry Becoming More Male-Dominated?
This incident isn’t happening in a vacuum. It follows growing conversations about the overwhelming male dominance in the streaming world.
According to Pokimane, still the most-followed female Twitch streamer, the industry has become far less balanced compared to the Among Us boom of 2020.
“You look at the top streamers today—it’s Kai, it’s Speed, it’s mostly young dudes doing wild things,” she explained on a recent podcast. “There are fewer and fewer women breaking into that space at the highest level.”
The Sis-A-Thon itself had already been under scrutiny before the harassment even took place.
YouTuber Endymion, with over 300K subscribers, publicly criticized the event, comparing it unfavorably to Kai Cenat’s high-production subathons.
He ridiculed the stream, suggesting female streamers “just sit there” and “ask for money.”
Cinna quickly fired back, calling out the double standard female streamers face. She defended the effort that went into the Sis-A-Thon, explaining that they planned every detail, built sets by hand, and curated events tailored for female creators.
Valkyrae Fights Back
Following the harassment incident, Valkyrae has vowed to find the man responsible and hold him accountable.
“He is still out there, but I’m investing as much as I can to find this guy,” she stated during a follow-up stream.
Cinna also emphasized that this wasn’t just a random act of violence—they have evidence that the attacker specifically knew who they were.
The Sis-A-Thon was meant to be a moment of empowerment, but instead, it highlighted just how unsafe the streaming space remains for women—both online and in real life.
As IRL streaming grows in popularity, the industry is facing a reckoning on whether enough is being done to protect creators, especially women, from real-world threats.
While the Sis-A-Thon didn’t end the way Valkyrae and Cinna had hoped, it sparked a larger conversation—one that Twitch, YouTube, and the wider streaming world can no longer ignore.
