DreamHack Australia Condemns Creator Actions at Melbourne Festival
DreamHack Australia issued a statement on April 29 condemning the actions of a group of creators for disrupting and harassing attendees at the Melbourne festival. The festival, which took place at Melbourne Park, witnessed incidents that led to a swift response from DreamHack.
The statement, posted on X (formerly Twitter), made it clear that individuals who sought to cause harm or harass attendees would face consequences. Lifetime bans were handed out to those identified as responsible for the disruptive behavior. DreamHack emphasized that incidents from the weekend had been addressed, and the individuals involved would not be welcome at any future events.
Accusations and Bans
Several accused creators were reportedly invited to the event as part of a partnership between streaming platform Kick and the festival. Among them was Louiex, a Kick creator who faced bans from both the platform and future DreamHack events due to instances of harassment at the festival and in greater Melbourne.
Footage shared on KickStreamingNews on X/Twitter showed Louiex in a physical altercation with another individual on a Melbourne street. The situation escalated to a point where punches were exchanged before the clip ended. Louiex’s Kick account was subsequently removed by the platform following the incident.
Partnership Impact
Kick’s partnership with DreamHack, established in mid-April, aimed to enhance the festival experience for attendees. The one-year deal allowed for extended interactions between creators and audience members, as well as on-site activations at DreamHack events in Melbourne, Atlanta, Dallas, and Stockholm through 2024.
The partnership faced scrutiny in light of the recent incidents, prompting discussions on streaming etiquette and event behavior within the community. Andrew Santamaria, Kick’s head of strategic partnerships, committed to addressing the April incident and refining the platform’s approach to streaming norms in a scheduled livestream.
Attendance Records Broken
Despite the disruptive incidents, DreamHack Melbourne saw record attendance numbers, with over 35,000 individuals partaking in the gaming festival. This marked a 40% increase compared to the previous year, indicating strong interest and engagement from the gaming and esports community over the three-day event.
As investigations into the incidents continue, both DreamHack and Kick have assured ongoing efforts to uphold community standards and address any disruptive behavior that may occur at future events.