Pokimane Apologizes on Twitch Chat

Imane ‘Pokimane’ Anys has apologized for what she claims was merely a “harmless joke” about women in the kitchen, after a huge backlash flooded her Twitch channel earlier this week.

Pokimane, a popular Twitch streamer, has received backlash on the Amazon-owned platform after joking in a recent stream that “all women belong in the kitchen.” 

On December 7th, the Moroccan-Canadian gave a seemingly controversial response — which she later said was an attempt at a joke — when she was asked if girls should still “cook and clean” in relationships. She laughed: “All women belong in the kitchen!” The joke appeared to be done until questions continued to show up in her Twitch broadcast chat over the next few days. Viewers have repeatedly asked her if she was serious in every stream since then.

Pokimane has tried to properly refute any allegations she believes “women belong in the kitchen” in a December 14th apology, eight days later.

The 25-year-old decided to address the “kitchen” joke after days of remarks in her Twitch chat – a reaction she was surprised she even had to make. Pokimane responded sarcastically at first. After a fan inquired if she believed the claim, she humorously doubled down; “I mean, like, a few reasons, I guess. For starters, I really like food, so I’m in the kitchen a lot. Secondly, I don’t make the rules, I just repeat them sometimes.” “Lastly,” Pokimane added with a sly smile, “I think girls look really cute in aprons. So then really, why wouldn’t we want them to be in the kitchen?”

Pokimane, on the other hand, couldn’t keep up the act and burst out laughing. She then took a more serious tone in her response, apologizing to anyone who had been upset by her remarks. She further stated that the remarks were “obviously never meant.” 

Pokimane then further continued; “I feel like the worst thing is having to explain a joke. Really, guys, don’t worry guys. God, I’m not sexist. On God, for real, not sexist by the way. I bet you a buck fifty that I’m not, I swear. Me supporting other female streamers and always talking about gendered issues, oh no, that’s the front. My one kitchen joke, for sure, means I’m sexist.”

This isn’t the first time this week that Pokimane has butted heads with her Twitch fans, after she made a child-stealing joke on December 12th.