In the last ten years or so, Twitch and other streaming platforms have moved beyond the niche corners of the gaming community into the mainstream, attracting millions upon millions of views. Streamers have been catapulted into stardom, earning lucrative livings off of platforms likeTwitchand YouTube. Celebrities have even got involved, and streaming has even become a talking point on well-known late-night TV shows. It’s safe to say that streaming has changed the face of video games forever, and those that have contributed to its success have influenced how people play and consume games in a big way.
How various streamers embrace fame and present themselves differs greatly. Some use their own names and faces, some use pseudonyms, and others – likeex-Twitch streamer Dr Disrepsect– have crafted a persona to use in front of the camera. This is mostly for comedic effect but also allows Herschel “Guy” Beahm to embrace a pantomime-like character to properly put on a show and entertain his viewers while keeping his real life and real self separate. However, being in character twenty-four-seven while streaming is a tall order, and even Dr Disrespect lets the mask drop from time to time.
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Keeping Up Appearances
When it comes to a well-developed, almost constantly maintained persona,Dr Disrespect is up there as one of the best. His commitment to the character is fairly staggering, not only donning the hat/sunglasses/mustache/mullet ensemble in his streams but also actual events and competitions. The pro-wrestling-inspired character has been a hit with his audience and helped Dr Disrespect garner millions of follows on Twitch through his satirical branding and behavior. But even with his commitment, there are times when Beahm has peeked through, either through necessity or by accident.
Despite Dr Disrespect’s best efforts, sometimes he’s forced to crack a smile or choke back a laugh, which is often at odds with theYouTuber’s brash, ultra-competitive alter ego. On one notable occasion during a livestream, a fan added a slightly risqué comment about a date after donating $5, which caused Dr Disrespect to almost break character when he read it out. Moments like this help to humanize the streamer, and are always a hit with fans who are watching. A similar occurrence happened when Dr Disrespect was playingPlayerUnknown’s Battlegroundswith an unaware fan. After asking what the other player thought of the streamer, his response that he “loved him” visibly affected Dr Disrespect. Whether he was hamming it up for the audience or not, taking a moment off-camera to compose himself before returning was sweet nonetheless.
Dr Disrespect alsobroke character at the recent UFC 269 in Las Vegasat the end of last year when a fan approached him. The other attendee filmed Dr Disrespect as he got a drink, and asked him “hey, Doc! That’s not a gin and tonic. What are you doing?” This unexpected outburst caused the streamer to nearly spill his drink as he laughed, exclaiming afterward that the fan caught him off guard. The fan later posted the interaction on Twitter, much to the amusement of his followers and other streamers like TimTheTatman.
There have been some not-so-tender or humorous moments whereDr Disrespects has emerged from behind the iconic mullet. While the streamer mostly breaks character to try to hide a chuckle or two, like when streamingPUBGorWarzone, there have been some reasons that were not as wholesome.
One memorable incident occurred in 2018, where Dr Disrespect disappeared from camera to investigate some noises, and returned without his wig to explain that his house had just been shot at, and a window was broken. Another example was after E3 2019 when Dr Disrespect posted on his IRL Twitter account to apologize for a bathroom livestream during the event which led to a Twitch ban.
The Rise Of The Streamer Persona
With streamers becoming so ubiquitous in today’s culture, it can be hard for one to break away from the pack and distinguish themselves. Cultivating a persona, much like Dr Disrespect’s, can help to separate them and give them a fresh angle. Dr Disrespect has inspired some similar characters among Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook platforms, with other streamers taking on their own over-the-top characters to amuse viewers and gain followers. Some streamers, likemusician and YouTuber Corpse Husband, prefer to remain faceless, letting their voice do all the work. Some use this tactic to protect their private lives rather than to craft a comical character, which appears even more prudent in the face of the offline and IRL abuse that streamers can face.
Others use characters to voice unpopular opinions or over-the-line jokes and are able to blame the personality of their persona, rather than claiming to espouse these views themselves. Sometimes this can work – the delineation between the ridiculous character with outrageous views and the real person behind the mask is clear, likeDr Disrespect’s hyper-macho mustachioed maniac. But other times it appears as if a streamer might simply be using their persona to air their opinions, and retreating behind the excuse when it’s convenient – something that audiences will hopefully see through.
