TheDanDangler in controversy

Twitch has always been known for its charity streams. Streamers on the platform raised over $83 million for charity such as children’s hospitals and cancer research foundations in 2020. Several Twitch streamers, including Fuslie from 100 Thieves, have recently organized successful charity streams to collect money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

While many people appreciate streamers for raising awareness and encouraging donations, one streamer, TheDanDangler, has been criticized for revealing that she will pocket half of all proceeds from a charity stream. This has created a controversy about whether it’s ethical for streamers to organize charity streams while keeping a portion of the proceeds.

TheBoiSantana of FaZe Clan, who is known for his Warzone livestream, expressed his displeasure with the practice of streamers keeping a portion of charity stream proceeds on Twitter. While he did not mention TheDanDangler by name, her response to his tweet and the subsequent debate suggest she was the topic of the original tweet.

Recently, TheBoiSantana tweeted that he saw a streamer raising money for breast cancer awareness. He was disgusted, though, because they were retaining half of the revenue. TheDanDangler reacted, underlining that she gave half of her proceeds to charity and revealed her goals throughout the stream.

However, many Twitch viewers thought TheDanDangler’s charity stream was unethical. TheBoiSantana asserted that she “used an illness to get more people to donate and took home 50%.” One Twitter user agreed, writing, “If you do a charity stream you’re gonna get considerably more donations than average, I think this is scummy and a way to make money.”

Fellow twitch streamer Froste agreed with TheBoiSantana stating; “Unless she put it in the title, donation panel, and donation page this is 100% scummy. Just mentioning it on stream every once in a while isn’t enough as most people see charity stream in the title and assume all the donations are going to charity.”

While some believe that taking a cut of charity stream earnings, especially when it’s acknowledged, is unethical, others backed TheDanDangler’s activities. The owner of Call of Duty statistics website TrueGameData argued it is ethical because she disclosed her intentions and donors are opting-in to TheDanDangler’s policy by choosing to donate to her charity stream. They also argued that a Twitch streamer has overhead living costs just like a charity, so it is not unethical for said streamer to take a percentage.

The Twitch community has previously expressed concerns regarding charity streams. According to xQc, “most charities” pay streamers to make streams. Dr. Lupo and Ninja’s wife and manager, Jessica Blevins, retaliated, claiming that the procedure is illegal and that if they did, they would have to reveal it.