on screen. On December 13, 2021, Piker was banned from Twitch for one week for using the racial epithet "cracker" repeatedly on stream. Piker argued that the term should not be considered a slur since a person using it is "powerless" and they "are doing it as someone who has been historically oppressed blowing off steam." He further contended "cracker" is not a slur in the same way as other racial slurs, stating that "It's something I've talked about so many times because it's like white boys love fucking saying, 'Cracker is the same as the n-word,' It's really stupid. The etymology of the word is different. … It comes from 'whip cracker.' So the power is still in the hands of the white person in that situation, whereas the n-word is dehumanizing." However, the exact history and etymology of the word is still debated. Reception Outlets dedicated to video game culture and youth culture have covered Piker's streams positively. In particular, journalists have noted his ability to "combine information and entertainment," and to approach left-wing political coverage in a way that is relatable and accessible to Twitch viewers, who may feel out of touch with cable news. Some authors also cite Piker's vulgar, animated style of expression and his physical appearance as notable factors behind his popularity. Gaming website Kotaku selected Piker as one of their "Gamers of the Year" for 2020, citing him as a major figure in the mainstreaming of political commentary on Twitch, a platform which in the past was seen as discouraging to political discussion. Piker won a Streamy in the News category at the 10th annual awards in 2020, and was nominated again in the same category for the 2021 event. In 2022, Piker was nominated in the categories News, Just Chatting, and Streamer of the Year, winning the News award for the second time and being nominated for three consecutive years. At the event he also presented the Creator of the Year award alongside Avani Gregg, which was won by MrBeast for the third year in a row. Personal life Piker was raised Muslim and is of Turkish descent. He is the nephew of Cenk Uygur, creator of The Young Turks. Piker currently resides in Los Angeles. Awards and nominations |- |rowspan="2"|2018 |rowspan="2"|The Breakdown |Web Series |10th Shorty Awards | |rowspan="2"| | |- |News & Information |2018 Webby Awards | | |- |rowspan="2"|2020