s1mple banned from Twitch again, says it’s for homophobic slurs

Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev faces renewed disciplinary action from Twitch moderators, marking his fourth documented suspension from the streaming platform.

The Natus Vincere esports professional has been temporarily removed from Twitch’s broadcasting services following another incident involving prohibited terminology. While Twitch administration has not released an official statement detailing the specific violation, s1mple’s social media commentary indicates the ban relates to homophobic language usage during a live stream.

He addressed the situation through his Twitter account shortly after the suspension took effect:

It’s ironic that I receive platform suspension for reacting aggressively toward an individual who deliberately employs the term “Pidor” while attempting to trigger my removal from the service. I attempted to criticize this behavior and referenced the restricted vocabulary because I maintain opposition to such language (due to platform regulations)

— Sasha (@s1mpleO) October 30, 2020

According to s1mple’s explanation, another participant initiated homophobic slurs with the deliberate intention of provoking platform intervention against him. This escalated into a verbal confrontation where s1mple mentioned the prohibited term. The professional gamer contends this exchange prompted the disciplinary action, despite his usage not targeting any specific individual during this particular incident.

Regardless of the specific circumstances, Twitch’s moderation team likely maintains heightened sensitivity regarding s1mple and language violations given his established history.

Documented suspension history of s1mple:

• Initial platform violation
• Secondary infraction occurrence
• Tertiary disciplinary action

s1mple’s Pattern of Platform Policy Disregard

s1mple has encountered multiple platform suspensions for behavior that clearly violates Twitch’s established community guidelines. Throughout these repeated incidents, the esports professional has demonstrated minimal indication of modifying his conduct based on previous disciplinary measures.

The initial documented suspension occurred in August 2019 when he directed a homophobic slur toward Natus Vincere teammate Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov during competitive gameplay. His reaction to the initial ban involved publicly criticizing Twitch through social media platforms while suggesting that employing homophobic terminology remains acceptable when not intended maliciously.

An identical scenario unfolded the subsequent November. s1mple received another Twitch suspension for utilizing homophobic language, and he repeated his criticism of Twitch’s moderation approach, asserting that contextual factors surrounding his word choices weren’t properly considered.

Champions Club,

Twitch has not provided specific details regarding their decision rationale… Sincere appreciation to everyone offering support during this challenging period.
While I’m temporarily restricted from streaming, we can collectively enjoy my alternative broadcast platforms featuring “exceptional” promotional offers that participants can “readily” obtain
-s1mple

— Sasha (@s1mpleO) July 29, 2020

His most recent previous suspension occurred in July. Although the precise triggering incident remains unclear, s1mple treated the matter humorously and referenced the contemporaneous suspension of Dr Disrespect. This approach persisted despite the recognized platform policy that third violations frequently result in permanent account termination.

To date, all of s1mple’s suspensions have involved one-week durations. Preliminary information suggests s1mple has not received permanent platform exclusion, though uncertainty remains regarding whether he will face extended streaming prohibition or another relatively minor disciplinary measure.

Twitch maintains clearly defined community guidelines that explicitly prohibit hateful conduct and harassment, including specific restrictions against homophobic language and slurs. The platform’s moderation system operates on a progressive disciplinary model where repeated violations trigger increasingly severe consequences.

Professional streamers operating on the platform must understand that context rarely mitigates violations involving prohibited terminology. The platform’s automated systems and human moderators typically flag specific words and phrases regardless of conversational intent or situational context.

For established content creators like s1mple, maintaining platform compliance requires implementing proactive measures including:

• Comprehensive familiarity with Twitch’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
• Establishing clear boundaries for on-stream language and behavior
• Developing conflict resolution strategies that don’t involve prohibited terminology
• Utilizing moderation bots and filters to prevent rule violations
• Creating contingency plans for managing provocative viewers without policy breaches

The platform’s three-strike policy typically escalates from temporary suspensions to indefinite platform removal. However, Twitch maintains discretion to impose permanent bans following single severe violations or patterns demonstrating disregard for platform policies.

Professional streamers can implement several strategic approaches to maintain platform compliance while managing challenging streaming situations:

Language Management Protocol: Establish predetermined responses for dealing with provocative chat messages or player interactions. Develop alternative phrasing that conveys disapproval without violating platform policies. Utilize platform-approved moderation tools to address inappropriate behavior from other participants.

Conflict De-escalation Techniques: When encountering deliberate provocation, employ time-outs, chat bans, or direct reporting to platform moderators rather than engaging in rule-violating responses.

Educational Preparation: Regularly review platform policy updates and community guideline modifications. Twitch frequently refines its enforcement standards and prohibited content definitions.

Professional Development: Treat streaming as professional entertainment rather than casual gameplay. This mindset shift encourages more deliberate language choices and behavioral standards.

Understanding that platform rules apply uniformly regardless of viewer count, professional status, or previous platform contributions remains essential for sustainable streaming careers.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » s1mple banned from Twitch again, says it’s for homophobic slurs Analyzing s1mple's repeated Twitch bans and what streamers can learn about platform conduct policies