The 2025 Streamer Awards ceremony, intended to celebrate the best in live streaming, found itself mired in controversy following a series of jokes made by the host, Fanfan. While top streamer Kai Cenat emerged as a major winner, securing multiple awards, the event's highlight for many became a moment of perceived disrespect that ignited a firestorm of reactions online and on stage.
Fanfan's Controversial Monologue Targets Kai Cenat
While presenting an award, host Fanfan directed pointed humour towards Kai Cenat. She remarked, "This year, as everyone knows, you broke the record for the most expensive haircut and the least educational university." This comment was a clear reference to Cenat's new, highly-discussed hairstyle and his collaboration with basketball icon LeBron James on a project.
Fanfan didn't stop there. She continued with a more biting comparison, stating, "Oh, and also, congrats on your new documentary with 50 Cent. That was, that was you, right?" As reported by The Mirror US, this was a direct and controversial allusion to the Netflix documentary 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning', which details the fall from grace of the rapper and producer Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The joke implied a parallel between Cenat and the disgraced music mogul, a comparison many viewers found inappropriate and unfunny.
Immediate Backlash and Tylil's On-Stage Rebuke
The reaction to Fanfan's monologue was swift. Fellow streamer Tylil directly addressed the situation during the ceremony. Taking the microphone, he delivered a sharp critique, saying, "If you're all gonna be on the mic making jokes, at least let it be funny." He concluded with a terse, "Have a good night," and when prompted to make a joke of his own, he declined. This public rebuke highlighted the division in the room and set the stage for a wider online debate.
Online Community Divided Over the Incident
The awkward exchange quickly spilled over onto social media platforms like Reddit, where the community was split in its assessment. Many users condemned Fanfan's approach. One critic questioned the event's tone, writing, "This is terrible. Is not one person there able to have class or not be an insufferable douche?" Another expressed broader confusion about the awards' nature, commenting on the 'inside joke' feel of the ceremony.
However, a segment of viewers came to Fanfan's defence. Some pointed out that jokes comparing Cenat's shaved head to Diddy had been circulating online for some time. A supporter argued, "Unpopular opinion, most of her jokes are actually pretty funny but the full lack of audience participation kills them entirely... This exact joke was used hundreds of times during kai's own subathon and got laughs every time." This perspective suggested the delivery or context, rather than the content itself, was the issue.
Amidst the controversy, Kai Cenat's professional achievements were not overshadowed. He clinched several prestigious awards, including Best Just Chatting Streamer, Best Marathon Stream, and Best Streamed Collab, solidifying his top-tier status in the streaming world for the year.
