Twitch Bans NBA Player Meyers Leonard for Using Anti-Semitic Slur on Livestream
Meyers Leonard, who plays for the Miami Heat in the NBA, has been banned from Twitch after using an anti-Semitic slur during a Call of Duty: Warzone livestream.
The ban was issued by Twitch in accordance with their guidelines, which prohibit the use of hateful slurs on the platform. The safety of the community is a top priority for Twitch, and they reserve the right to suspend accounts for inappropriate conduct that is harmful or puts the community at risk.
This incident prompted FaZe Clan, ASTRO Gaming, Origin PC, and Scuf Gaming to sever their partnerships with Leonard. The Miami Heat also issued a statement, expressing their zero tolerance for hateful language and announcing that Leonard will be away from the team indefinitely.
The NBA confirmed that they are looking into the incident and will conduct an investigation. Leonard issued an apology, stating that he did not know the meaning of the word he used at the time. He expressed a desire to educate himself about this type of hate and how to combat it.
Leonard, who was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012 and traded to the Miami Heat in 2019, has been an active streamer and gamer, particularly in battle royale titles such as Warzone.
Update March 9 8:59pm CT: The Heat has also released a statement regarding the incident.