Twitch has deleted the “GunRun” global emote from its platform following serious allegations against Justin “GunRun” Ignacio, the CEO of VTuber agency VShojo. The streaming platform quietly removed the legacy emote that depicted Ignacio amid mounting accusations of financial misconduct.
GunRun stands accused of mishandling approximately $500,000 intended for the Immune Deficiency Foundation charity. Former VShojo talent and employees have also come forward claiming they weren’t paid for months of work, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
The situation has triggered a mass exodus from VShojo, with major English-language VTuber stars including Ironmouse and Zentraya reportedly leaving the agency. These creators rank among the most well-known English VTubers globally, dealing a significant blow to the company’s roster and reputation.
The now-removed emote held historical importance on Twitch. It honored Ignacio for his pioneering technical contributions to the streaming world, particularly the development of the “streaming backpack” that revolutionized IRL (In Real Life) streaming by bundling cameras, modems, and power supplies into a portable setup.
During Twitch’s early days, GunRun was considered an essential behind-the-scenes figure who helped many streamers get established during the Justin.tv era. He provided technical support for numerous eSports and StarCraft II streamers when the platform was still finding its footing.
Twitch has previously removed global emotes tied to controversial figures, most notably the PogChamp emote. The platform appears to be keeping up this approach of distancing itself from individuals facing serious community or legal controversy.
Former VShojo members have alleged that beyond payment issues, GunRun manipulated talents against each other and moved money internally to make the company look solvent. While no formal legal proceedings have been confirmed, the scale of the allegations has many guessing that legal action could be on the horizon.
