49ers Statement on Ninja Controversy

The San Francisco 49ers have severed ties with controversial streamer Dr Disrespect following his admission of sending inappropriate messages to a minor. This marks the latest in a series of sponsors abandoning the streamer after details surrounding his 2020 Twitch ban emerged.

Former Twitch employee Cody Conners alleged on June 21st that Dr Disrespect, whose real name is Herschel "Guy" Beahm IV, was banned for "sexting a minor" via Twitch's private messaging system. While initially denying wrongdoing, Dr Disrespect subsequently admitted to exchanging inappropriate messages with a minor on June 25th.

49ers Drop Dr Disrespect

In light of this admission, the San Francisco 49ers announced they would no longer work with Dr Disrespect. A spokesperson stated, "We take these developments seriously and will not be working with him going forward," according to Digiday. The 49ers, valued at an estimated $6 billion, represent the largest sponsor to drop the streamer in response to this revelation. The extent of their contribution to his income remains unclear, however, Dr Disrespect frequently collaborated with the team, participating in marketing campaigns and even announcing their 2022 draft pick, Tyrion Davis-Price.

This partnership's abrupt end mirrors Dr Disrespect's 2020 departure from Twitch. The 42-year-old content creator's admission has resulted in widespread distancing. Gaming peripheral manufacturer Turtle Beach and game developer Midnight Society (co-founded by Dr Disrespect in 2021) have also ended their relationships.

Several previous sponsors, including Mountain Dew, have indicated they have no plans to renew any collaborations. A Mountain Dew representative confirmed to Digiday that the company hadn't worked with Dr Disrespect for some time.

Prior to these sponsorship losses, Dr Disrespect announced a streaming hiatus, clarifying in a June 25th statement his intention to return to content creation soon.