Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter Shares Disturbing Encounter with Stalker at 100 Thieves Compound
Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter, co-owner of the esteemed esports and streaming organization, recently revealed a harrowing experience with a delusional stalker who attempted to locate her at the 100 Thieves compound in Los Angeles.
In an interview with fellow YouTuber Anthony Padilla on July 14, Valkyrae recounted how the obsessed fan flew from another state with the belief that she wanted to meet him, despite never having met or spoken with him before.
Close Call and Police Intervention
Thankfully, Valkyrae’s colleagues alerted her and immediately contacted the police, leading to the stalker’s departure from the premises before he could find her.
However, the persistent stalker refused to leave without a fight. He remained at the LAX airport for several days, creating recorded videos while insisting that Valkyrae would eventually come to pick him up, as he still believed she wanted to see him.
The Danger of Parasocial Mindset
Reflecting on the incident, Valkyrae expressed concern about the stalker’s mental state and emphasized how anyone can develop a parasocial mindset towards content creators they watch, which poses a significant danger.
She remarked, “Seeing videos of him recording himself really reminded me how anyone could watch you and build some sort of parasocial mindset with any streamer or content creator they watch. It’s dangerous.”
A History of Stalkers
This isn’t the first time Valkyrae has faced such incidents. In 2021, she was forced to move houses after her address was leaked and fell into the hands of a stalker, raising concerns about her safety. Additionally, she’s received disturbing messages from fans who claimed to love her despite never having met her.
Due to these circumstances, Valkyrae had to make her social media accounts private at one point.
Unfortunately, she is not alone in dealing with stalkers. Other Twitch and YouTube stars, like Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa, have also had to navigate similar alarming situations. In June 2022, Siragusa feared for her life when a stalker traveled all the way from Estonia to live near her.
An Increasing Concern
These incidents highlight a growing issue in the industry. Studies have shown an increased likelihood of parasocial relationships, which contributes to the rise of such disturbing encounters.