Why are Hasan and Destiny fighting?
HasanAbi’s and Destiny’s feud has been festering online for years—with friction starting to slowly build over political ideals.
The streamers first crossed paths at Politicon 2018, where they were introduced through their mutual interest in left-wing politics. Hasan Piker and Destiny quickly connected over shared ideals, and the initial meeting marked the start of what seemed like a promising friendship.
Destiny’s pragmatic liberalism often clashed with Hasan’s uncompromising socialist views. Their debates around figures like Bernie Sanders, healthcare reform, and Kamala Harris only pushed them further apart.
Throw in their passionate, sometimes rabid fan bases, and it’s obvious how this rivalry went from minor disagreements to a full-fledged beef.
Hasan: The Young Turks host turned socialist star
If there’s a “nepo baby” in the political streaming world, it’s Hasan Piker. Starting as a producer and host for The Young Turks—co-founded by his uncle, Cenk Uygur—Hasan was already steeped in progressive commentary before going solo.
But unlike Destiny’s more central-left lean, Hasan went full throttle on the leftist approach, bringing socialist ideas to a mainstream young audience on Twitch. Despite his scorching-hot takes on pressing topics (like “America deserved 9/11”) his humor and unapologetic stance on social issues have built him an equally devoted fanbase.
Now officially being one of Twitch CEO Dan Clancy’s favorite streamers, Hasan Piker is certainly the darling of Twitch and unapologetically the leftist voice on the platform.
Destiny: The political gamer
Destiny, or Steven Bonnell, didn’t start out as Twitch’s resident debate lord like he is today. Back in the early 2010s, he was all about StarCraft II, grinding as a pro player before he pivoted to political commentary.
Over time, his centrist liberal takes were delivered with logic, a no-nonsense attitude—and more than a little bit of shouting. These debates grew his loyal fanbase and a reputation for digging into complicated issues against, especially against right-wing opponents.
Destiny’s approach isn’t soft: He is skeptical of hardline stances and prefers practical solutions, even when that means clashing with more progressive views.
From friends to foes
It’s hard to picture it now, but Hasan and Destiny’s relationship started out as a solid friendship. Both streamed political content on Twitch, sharing a passion for progressive change and left-leaning ideas.
Funnily enough, when Hasan started solo streaming, Destiny was by far the more known creator. Already popular for his intense debate style, he welcomed Hasan as a rising voice in the space. But as each started to grow their ideologies, fan loyalties began shifting and viewers started picking sides.
The debate that broke it all
On July 7, 2019, Hasan and Destiny finally met face-to-face for a debate, aiming to hash out their differences. But what started as a friendly debate quickly spiraled, with constant interruptions from Hasan. Instead of finding common ground, they continued to argue about semantics, growing more and more irritated—either unwilling to budge.
The aftermath spilled onto Destiny’s Reddit, where users overwhelmingly sided with him, further angering Hasan. In certified internet lore, Hasan responded directly on Destiny’s subreddit—a clear sign that the debate’s fallout had actually struck a nerve. This specific exchange marked the beginning of the end of their friendship, and the start of a long-term internet beef.
Bernie Bros and broken bonds
Around the 2020 Democratic primaries, Hasan and Destiny re-ignited their beef. It began when Destiny voiced concerns on his stream of what he called “Bernie Bros”—intense Bernie Sanders supporters he felt were so critical of other Democratic candidates that they risked hurting the progressive cause.
He argued this vocal group of supporters could make the movement seem obsessive and turn potential voters away. Word spread quickly, reaching Hasan, who saw Destiny’s comments as a shot at him and his community, feeling “Bernie Bro” was both a jab and a dismissal of his work as a political commentator.
Hasan and Destiny’s break up over Kamala
Despite an initial apology from Destiny, who admitted he didn’t realize “Bernie Bro” was a disparaging term to use, things took a turn for the worse when he fact-checked one of Hasan’s live streams about Kamala Harris. Destiny accused Hasan of spreading misinformation about Kamala Harris’s record as a prosecutor.
He obviously felt Hasan’s portrayal was misleading and proposed a debate, hoping to set the record straight. Hasan accepted, but the debate soon descended, showcasing just how far apart their beliefs had drifted.
Destiny removes Hasan’s dead dog
An article about the Hasan vs. Destiny feud wouldn’t be complete without touching on the beef over r/place in 2022. Here, both fanbases took their rivalry to a new level.
If you’re not familiar, the r/place subreddit allows users to place single pixels on a shared canvas for a short period of time on Reddit. This led to Destiny’s community (DGG) and Hasan’s followers to scramble for territory, with Hasan’s followers dedicated a tribute to his deceased dog, Fish.
Destiny’s community quickly covered the memorial with a Hungarian flag and the letter “D” for Destiny. Known for pushing boundaries, this was some top-tier trolling on Destiny’s side. His fans took credit sparking heated exchanges between both communities and adding to the lore of the “K9 /11” incident.
Hasan’s pirate problem
Their latest beef revolved around Destiny criticizing Hasan, calling him a “cringe-larping loser” for interviewing a Houthi pirate on his stream. Instead of pressing him on pertinent questions, Hasan had a lighthearted exchange and humorously asked the pirate if he was familiar with anime One Piece and played Houthi propaganda uninterrupted.
Destiny went on to express disbelief, saying he would “pay a million dollars” if it meant sending Hasan to experience the conflict firsthand. He found Hasan’s decision to interact with someone affiliated with a controversial militia group deeply hypocritical and anti-American, especially given Hasan’s platform and his lifestyle in the U.S.
This feud won’t end anytime soon
Hasan and Destiny’s rivalry has gone from a friendship rooted in shared political ideals to one of Twitch’s most intense feuds. From early debates on Bernie Sanders to clashes on Reddit, each incident has deepened this drama-filled Twitch meta.
For their rabid fan bases, this drama has become entertainment, with every new controversy pulling them deeper into the beef. As long as these two remain online, one thing’s for certain—their feud continues.
