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Popular online personality and content creator Darren “IShowSpeed” streams on YouTube. He created his YouTube channel on March 21, 2016.
Popular streamer Darren Watkins Jr. aka “IShowSpeed” or simply “Speed” has become a household name within the online community. Speed is currently a livestreamer on YouTube. He has over 32 million subscribers, making him among the most followed streamers on the Google-owned platform. His YouTube channel was created on March 21, 2016, although it wasn’t before December 21, 2017, that he uploaded his first video there. His first livestream was on December 28, 2018, where he shared his Fortnite skills, a game that he plays to date.
During the lockdown, when his channel started to pick up steam, Speed typically livestreamed himself playing NBA 2K and Fortnite. At this point, his streams were less family-friendly and often featured him making toxic or questionable remarks. He also has a Twitch account, where he used to stream occasionally from 2020-2021. His Twitch account has over 348K followers.
He also saw his Twitch account get banned in December 2021 after he made some unsavory comments directed at Ash Kash (a female participant in Adin Ross’ e-date stream). The comments insinuated sexual violence, which violated the platform’s Terms of Service (ToS). Following this incident, Speed was banned indefinitely. His ban was finally lifted on October 10, 2023.
How Did IShowSpeed Become Popular Across The Globe?
By 2021, IShowSpeed rapidly began gaining subscribers. In June 2021, he reached his first milestone of 1 million subscribers, and by mid-2022, his following had surged past 10 million. During this period, his streams went viral, driven by his energetic and over-the-top reactions.
He also released several viral songs, including Shake, his most-viewed video to date, amassing over 216 million views. Initially, his popularity was primarily concentrated within the American audience. However, his shift into FIFA and the broader world of football (soccer) was what truly elevated his global reach and transformed his career.
One of his viral TikTok moments came when a fan asked him about his favorite football/soccer club, and he unironically responded, “Cristan Ronaldo…sewey” (Cristiano Ronaldo). This clip quickly gained traction, and since then, he has indeed become a rather fanatic fan of the Portuguese star.
Many of his streams from 2022 onward have featured football players. He even met Cristiano Ronaldo in June 2023 and Neymar later that same year. He has attended various football matches worldwide, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final in Qatar.
IShowSpeed Viral Moments
Beyond his popularity from associating with high-profile celebrities, including top athletes, Speed is also known for his outrageous antics. One of his first viral moments came when he lit a Pikachu-themed firecracker in his bedroom as part of a Fourth of July celebration.
In August 2023, during a livestream of Five Nights at Freddy’s, Speed faced a controversial moment. Startled by one of the in-game characters (Chica), he jumped in surprise, inadvertently exposing himself on camera.
In July 2024, Speed pulled off another viral stunt. First, he posted a reel showing himself jumping over a speeding Lamborghini. To silence doubters, he even livestreamed himself repeating the stunt – this time with two speeding supercars.
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