The San Francisco 49ers have severed ties with Dr Disrespect following his admission of sending inappropriate messages to a minor on Twitch. This is the latest in a series of sponsors abandoning the streamer after details surrounding his 2020 Twitch ban emerged.
On June 21st, former Twitch Account Director Cody Conners alleged Dr Disrespect, whose real name is Herschel "Guy" Beahm IV, engaged in "sexting a minor" via Twitch Whispers, leading to his permanent ban. Initially, Dr Disrespect denied wrongdoing, but on June 25th, he reversed his stance, admitting to exchanging inappropriate messages with a minor.
49ers Drop Dr Disrespect
In response to this revelation, the San Francisco 49ers ended their relationship with Dr Disrespect. A team representative told Digiday, "We take these developments seriously and will not be working with him going forward." With an estimated valuation of $6 billion, the 49ers represent the largest sponsor to drop the streamer so far. While the exact financial contribution is unknown, Dr Disrespect frequently collaborated with the team, participating in marketing campaigns and even announcing their 2022 third-round draft pick, Tyrion Davis-Price.
This abrupt end to their partnership mirrors Dr Disrespect's 2020 departure from Twitch. The 49ers aren't alone; gaming accessory maker Turtle Beach and game developer Midnight Society (co-founded by Dr Disrespect in 2021) have also cut ties. Several past sponsors, including Mountain Dew, have indicated they have no plans for future collaborations.
"We take these developments seriously and will not be working with [Dr Disrespect] going forward."
Prior to these sponsorship losses, Dr Disrespect announced a streaming hiatus, stating in a June 25th statement his intention to return soon.
