Summary
- Twitch has overturned ZeRo’s permanent ban, sparking mixed reactions in the community.
- ZeRo’s return raises questions about Twitch’s ban policies and transparency.
- Twitch’s recent change allows streamers with permanent bans to request a review after six months.
Twitch has lifted its permanent ban on Gonzalo “ZeRo” Barrios, almost five years after removing him from the platform. Even as the top streaming service, Twitch frequently faces criticism for its shaky ban policies; some say it shows favoritism while punishing others too harshly.
For those who don’t know ZeRo, he used to be seen as one of the top Super Smash Bros. Brawl players around. Then, in 2020, allegations shook the Smash community when ZeRo was confronted with claims of sexual misconduct involving minors. He later acknowledged parts of the accusations, saying the claims from Katie and Laura were “generally true” – he didn’t know their ages at the time and sent messages he called “unforgivable.” However, another accuser, Jisu, didn’t believe it and said ZeRo wasn’t being fully honest, accusing him of attempting to salvage his image and only admitting to certain actions when the situation became too serious.
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Twitch acted decisively after that, imposing a permanent ban on ZeRo in July 2020. Now, though, his Twitch account is back online. Notably, ZeRo was not banned from all platforms and continued to create content on YouTube, where he gained over 800,000 subscribers. Over the years, he kept fans informed, such as in November 2021 when the streamer said he was suing Jisu. Nearly a year later, he shared that the lawsuit had concluded, and he was actively seeking to have his Twitch ban lifted.
ZeRo’s Unbanning Sparks Mixed Reactions
ZeRo’s sudden unbanning has sparked mixed reactions across the community. Some are criticizing the platform for letting him back in, while others can’t stop talking about how different he looks. It’s not clear why the Amazon-owned streaming giant changed its mind, but it lines up with the new ban policy changes introduced in February. Now, even streamers with permanent Twitch bans can ask for a review after six months, and it might just get them back online.
What ZeRo has planned for streams is unclear – maybe fitness content or a gaming comeback. But there’s no guarantee his unban will last, given Twitch’s recent unpredictable behavior in similar cases. Take controversial streamer Sliker, whose account was unbanned after two years, only to be removed again within hours. Meanwhile, other streamers like Adin Ross keep asking for another chance, but Twitch has remained unresponsive. These inconsistent unbans highlight the company’s perceived lack of transparency. If the platform is going to lift a permanent ban, many in the community would appreciate a clear explanation for the reasoning.