Twitch superstar and political commentator Hasan Piker—better known as HasanAbi—has found himself at the center of a heated controversy after a viral video clip from his October 2025 livestream sparked widespread allegations of animal abuse. The incident has ignited a fierce debate across social media, dividing fans, critics, and fellow streamers, and even drawing the attention of animal rights organizations.
The Clip That Sparked Outrage
It all began on October 7, 2025, when a short segment from one of Piker’s regular Twitch streams began circulating on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). In the clip, Piker’s dog Kaya is seen lying nearby as he discusses politics. When Kaya starts to get up, Piker tells her to stay on her bed, sounding briefly irritated. Moments later, Kaya yelps and lies back down—a split-second moment that quickly went viral and fueled speculation about what had happened off-camera.
Online sleuths began dissecting the footage frame by frame. Some pointed to a green blinking light on Kaya’s collar as supposed evidence of a shock device, while others argued it looked more like an Apple AirTag. The ambiguity of the footage—and Piker’s annoyed tone—made the incident ripe for misinterpretation and debate.
Social Media Frenzy and New Allegations
As the clip spread, accusations escalated. Critics claimed Piker had used a shock collar on his dog, with some alleging he pressed a remote off-camera to discipline Kaya. The controversy deepened when a new video surfaced from Piker’s October 12 stream, allegedly showing him reaching for a device as Kaya reacts in the background. This second clip reignited the debate, with some streamers and viewers insisting it was proof of inappropriate behavior.
Popular streamer Louis “LosPollosTV” weighed in, saying, “This literally confirms the shock remote is next to him… He reaches for it, obviously hits the button and the dog jumps up shocked… All that because they’re not laying the right way? Are you f**king serious???”
Piker Responds and Debunks the Claims
Facing mounting backlash, Piker addressed the allegations directly on his stream. He showed viewers the collar in question, explaining that it was not a shock collar but a device with a vibration function, an embedded AirTag for tracking, and a flashlight. “It has the capacity to vibrate and that’s it,” Piker said, demonstrating the collar’s features and denying any use of a shock function.
Despite his efforts to clarify, the controversy continued to spread, fueled by ongoing social media speculation and commentary from critics like Ethan Klein, who used the incident to stoke their longstanding feud with Piker.
The Broader Conversation: Internet Outrage and Misinformation
This incident has become a case study in how quickly misinformation can spread online. Even after Piker’s public demonstration and denial, the narrative of animal abuse persisted, amplified by those seeking clout or pushing personal vendettas. As one commentator noted, “No matter how much he denies the allegations and proves that he did not use a shock collar on the dog, the misinformation campaign continued to spread across social media like wildfire”.
What’s Next for Hasan Piker?
While the controversy has certainly put Piker under intense scrutiny, it also highlights the challenges faced by high-profile streamers in the age of viral outrage. With millions of followers and a reputation as one of Twitch’s most influential political voices, Piker is no stranger to controversy—but this latest episode underscores the power and pitfalls of internet culture.
For now, Piker continues to stream and address the issue head-on, but the debate over the viral clip shows no signs of fading. As the internet continues to dissect every frame, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly narratives can spiral—and how difficult it can be to set the record straight.
Sources
1. A Viral Clip Has Sparked Allegations of Animal Abuse Against ...
2. Hasan Piker on Streaming, Zohran Mamdani, and the Future of ...
3. HasanAbi animal abuse scandal deepens as new alleged evidence ...
4. Straight Nonsense: Quit hounding Hasan Piker over his dog collar
5. Left-wing streamer Hasan Piker talks about the state of free speech
6. Hasan Piker Needs to Stop Shocking His Dog - National Review
