TW: This article mentions animal abuse and racism.
Popular Twitch streamer Alinity Devine, whose real name is Natalia Mogollon, is facing backlash after allegations of animal abuse during one of her recent streams. While playing Fortnite, Mogollon throws her cat behind her chair in a fit of frustration. Many took to Twitter to share their concerns on the streamer and Twitch’s response (or lack thereof).
https://twitter.com/lancefaltinsky/status/1152109666559811585?s=20
The video went viral, and many across the internet reported her on Twitch for her actions. The outrage spread so far that even PETA posted a tweet about the situation calling for Mogollon’s removal from the platform. https://twitter.com/peta/status/1152301760758685696
The Saskatoon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals released an official statement in which they announce Mogollon is under a formal investigation.
A formal cruelty complaint regarding this matter has been filed with our Animal Protection department and is currently under investigation. If you have any further details, you can assist our Officers & add to the file be reporting here: https://t.co/72OVF5Puii. Thank you! #yxe
— Saskatoon SPCA (@SaskatoonSPCA) July 19, 2019
As the situation escalated, other videos of Mogollon’s treatment of her pets were released. In one video, she gives her other cat alcohol from her mouth, calling it a “vodka kiss.” Alcohol ingestion can cause dangerous drops of blood sugar, pressure, and body temperature for pets.
Alinity also spit vodka into her cat’s mouth. This is clear animal abuse. @peta @TwitchSupport https://t.co/Sljag7Fr42
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) July 19, 2019
Following the criticism, Mogollon released a Twitter thread apology, ripping a page out of Logan Paul’s book in using the commonly mocked phrase, “lapses in my judgment.” Mogollon also wrote that “The vodka thing was well over a year ago, but it was also a stupid thing to do.”
Her throwing Milo and feeding her other cat vodka—both on separate occasions—all occurred during her Twitch live streams, along with a myriad of other offenses. In all of these situations, Mogollon has still remained a Twitch partner who is promoted by the company.
But this isn’t her first time in the news. She is infamously known for copyright striking PewDiePie’s YouTube video because he jokingly called her a “Twitch thot,” resulting in a long discussion about fair use across many of the Internet’s circles. Mogollon defends her strike against PewDiePie in a deleted Twitter statement because of the “rampant sexism in online communities.” Twitch never reprimanded Mogollon for the illegal copyright strike or other egregious actions such as nudity on stream (which is against Twitch’s Terms of Service) and saying the n-word, later apologizing in the same stream.
In both controversies, viewers question Twtich’s response to their partners’ behaviors. The company has not made a public statement. Not only is Mogollon’s behavior immoral, but it is shown how Twitch, among other companies, will allow their popular creators to break set rules again and again, solely because they bring a large profit.
Featured Image via Alinity’s Instagram.
