Popular Twitch streamer Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm is used to causing controversy. Beahm streams in character with his trademark wig and glasses, as larger than life persona Dr Disrespect. Now it seems he’s taken his persona’s love of drama too far as he used his stream to seemingly endorse a range of potentially dangerous conspiracy theories about the current world health crisis, both shocking and upsetting his audience.
Despite using the title Dr, the Two Time is not in any way shape or form a medical professional. However, this didn’t stop him from endorsing an article from The Hill by Dr. Scott W. Atlas about ending isolation and looking to herd immunity.
The article, which suggests a swift end to current quarantine measures, has come under immediate fire from scientists, who questioned its validity and data collecting methods. Many medical professionals and scientists have also openly spoken against a swift removal of lockdown, stating that it is unknown if antibodies will prevent reinfection and that a herd immunity approach would likely involve millions of fatalities. However, after reading the article, Disrespect appeared to endorse the idea, seemingly without exploring the alternatives. “Agreed,” he said. “Facts matter. Thank you, Scott.”
Chat exploded throughout, with fans becoming angry, arguing against the article’s content, and expressing their disbelief at what was happening. However, others praised Doc for his outspoken tirade.
Those who were already shocked were about to get a second dose as Doc moved on to a video by Thomas Cowan, a man who was placed on 5-year disciplinary probation by the Medical Board of California. The video talks about the widely debunked conspiracy theory that 5G causes illnesses.
He was less open about endorsing this content, instead cryptically stating “I’m gonna show something that is not directly related to what I just talked about. Something else, what I’m about to show you, along with what I just read, combining the two together—that’s what gets me upset.”
The segment ended with Dr Disrespect encouraging viewers to take a look at the information he presented as he stated “All’s I’m saying is that, me being about to talk about that, read that stuff, let’s just not be robots and say, ‘Yes sir, we will do everything you tell us to do, government, sir.’ Let’s listen to the experts and… I don’t know. Again, I gotta bite my tongue,” He also clarified that he wants people to go back to work because seeing people talk about job losses, “It sucks, you know.”
While the entire segment was in character, blurring the boundaries of whether Beahm is actually endorsing these articles, it is nevertheless irresponsible at best and highly dangerous at worst. Listening to experts is certainly sound advice but saying this after referencing articles by two highly criticized sources is concerning to say the least.
At this time of uncertainty, research is vital before blindly believing anything you read. The Doc’s seeming failure to do this means his stance is problematic and potentially dangerous. Although he may be regretting the decision already, as the full VOD of yesterday’s stream has been removed from his Twitch channel.
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Source: Kotaku
