The Rise of Sketch
Twitch has recently seen a surge of new creators, with some drawing in over 200,000 concurrent viewers. One such creator is Sketch, a Texas-based streamer who started his career in 2023 and quickly gained 1 million followers. Sketch’s rise to fame began with playing Madden 24, which many of his peers also found success with. Over time, his content evolved to include actual E-Sports competitions. His popular catchphrase, “What’s up brother?” has been mimicked by professional sports players like Kyle Tucker of the Houston Astros. Sketch has also partnered with the Houston Texans to announce draft picks and appeared in a Fortnite commercial. In just one year, he has become an online sensation.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
Sketch’s audience is primarily young, straight men who are familiar with the often toxic online gaming space. Early in July, Sketch was outed for producing past OnlyFans content with another male creator. The leak came from YouTuber Pocketbook, who shared screenshots in a video titled “The Real Sketch.” While Pocketbook claimed that being LGBTQ is not a career-ender, many questioned the motives behind the leak. Following this revelation, Sketch faced significant backlash from other streamers and viewers, including derogatory comments and slurs.
In response, Sketch live-streamed for ten minutes to explain his side. He admitted he was in a dark place when the OnlyFans content was made and spoke about his struggles with addiction. He revealed that he had been under the threat of this information coming out for two years. Sketch also mentioned the emotional toll the online harassment had taken on him, hinting that the support from fellow content creator Faze Banks and his family may have saved his life.
Homophobia and Anti-Sex Work Sentiment
The backlash against Sketch highlights the rampant homophobia and anti-sex work sentiment in online spaces. Some streamers continued to criticize him, while others, like Kai Cenat and Jynxzi, defended him. They called out the bullying and expressed sadness over Sketch’s situation. The incident shows how deeply ingrained these prejudices are in internet culture.
Twitch has long struggled with the topic of sex work. Many creators have expressed outrage over OnlyFans creators being allowed to live stream on the platform. Despite this, OnlyFans creators work within Twitch’s guidelines. Critics often compare this to the banning of gambling on the site, yet gambling has a significantly higher risk of addiction and suicide.
The Root of the Issue
Anti-sex work sentiment and homophobia both stem from patriarchal understandings. Historically, sex work has defied societal norms, especially regarding women. Karen Green, in her book “Prostitution, Exploitation, and Taboo,” explains that sex workers symbolized the antithesis of proper womanly conduct. This taboo, rooted in Christo-patriarchal values, continues to affect the modern adult film industry.
Feminists argue that the porn industry is exploitative. However, many everyday jobs are exploitative under a capitalist economy. According to Yale Law School, criminalizing sex work makes it more dangerous. It drives sex workers to isolated locations, impedes safety measures, and increases the risk of violence and STIs. To make the industry safer, society must work against these taboos.
Homophobia also arises from patriarchal values. Historically, men are seen as protectors and competitors, roles that gay men are perceived as not fulfilling. Although societal standards have evolved, the Sketch incident reveals that many still hold onto these outdated views.
Moving Forward
Sketch did nothing wrong. He is caught in drama created by longstanding taboos and toxic societal structures. His actions did not harm anyone. They only challenge our biases against sex work and homosexuality. We must move past these prejudices. If Sketch’s situation disgusts you, reflect on your biases and work to overcome them. Everyone deserves to live without questioning their life and friendships over something so inconsequential.