Twitch Streamer Clix Swatted During IRL Stream

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Twitch Streamer Clix Swatted During IRL Stream

Key Takeaways

  • Clix’s recent swatting incident at a mall led to a lockdown, but police found no threat and made no arrests.
  • Swatting incidents during livestreams can lead to dangerous high-risk situations.
  • False emergency reports disrupt Twitch streams and pose risks to both targets and police.

As a seasoned gamer and longtime Twitch follower, I find myself deeply troubled by the escalating issue of swatting incidents like the one that recently happened to popular Fortnite streamer Clix. Having watched countless hours of live streams over the years, it’s both shocking and disheartening to see this dangerous practice continuing to threaten the safety and well-being of streamers and their communities.

Notable Twitch streamer Clix, boasting over 7.8 million followers, recently encountered an alarming swatting incident during a live IRL stream at a shopping mall. This unexpected law enforcement response resulted in the temporary closure and evacuation of the building, halting Clix’s Twitch broadcast and causing considerable chaos for those within the mall.

Swatting refers to making a fake emergency call to law enforcement, causing specialized police units to respond. This action can be hazardous because it sets up a high-risk scenario based on a fictitious threat, potentially endangering both the target and the officers responding. Notably, popular streamers frequently become targets during live broadcasts; several such incidents have occurred in the past. For instance, on May 31, BeardedBlevins, Ninja’s brother, experienced a swatting incident while streaming live. BeardedBlevins explained that police arrived with their weapons at the ready, while his wife communicated with them, and their children watched from a basement window.

On the 14th of September, a prominent Fortnite streamer on Twitch named Clix was streaming his trip to Boca Raton’s Town Center Mall in Florida. However, the event took an unexpected turn while he was live. Clix alleged that the mall had been subjected to a SWATting incident due to a false report of a shooting nearby. This resulted in a lockdown and a large-scale police presence. Clix mentioned that the mall’s entrances were sealed, and he described the chaotic scene filled with frightened shoppers, including those who were screaming and crying. The Boca Raton Police Department communicated about the situation via several tweets, initially advising people to evacuate from the south side because of a potential threat originating from the north parking lot.

Boca Raton Police Respond to Swatting Incident Involving Clix

As a gamer, I got a surprising visit from the cops earlier today after a call claimed someone with guns and explosives was parked on the north side, near where I usually stream on Twitch. Luckily, they found my car and secured it promptly, linking it to me, Clix. They briefly held me, but I cooperated fully, leading them to believe that this threat could have been a prank by one of my viewers since I was live at the time. The Bomb Squad inspected my vehicle thoroughly, but thankfully found nothing suspicious. In the end, I wasn’t arrested, but they emphasized that swatting incidents are taken seriously, and they will continue to dig deeper into who made this false alarm.

As a gamer, I can’t deny the grave and disruptive nature of swatting. It’s not just a harmless prank; it’s a real threat that’s been proven time and again to cause serious trouble. Take 2022 for instance, when popular Twitch streamer QTCinderella openly shared her struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after her home was swatted. And let’s not forget the tragic incident in 2017 where a 28-year-old father of two lost his life during a swatting incident. It’s a chilling reminder that swatting is no joke, and it’s something we all need to take seriously.

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2024-09-16 11:34