Multiple VTubers have reported that gifts from fans were discarded by staff during TwitchCon meet-and-greets in October 2025. The items were allegedly thrown away after staff agreed to deliver them to the creators.
IronMouse was among the first to address the issue publicly. The VTuber posted an apology acknowledging that gifts meant for her and other creators had been thrown away. She said she should have arranged gift logistics herself instead of relying on event staff.
The most detailed account came from an attendee at a Chibidoki meet-and-greet. The fan asked security to pass along a gift to the VTuber. Staff agreed to help but immediately threw the package into a nearby trash bin. When confronted, they justified the action by calling it a “security risk” that could have contained an explosive.
Henya also confirmed the issue affected her meet-and-greet. She stated that her team had specifically instructed venue staff not to touch boxes of fan gifts. Those instructions were ignored and the gifts were thrown out anyway.
Other VTubers including K9Kuro and Phoebe were also named as creators whose fans lost gifts during the event. Attendees also reported confusion about queue management, with some claiming staff ended lines early and blamed the decisions on creators.
The security explanation raised immediate questions from fans. Multiple people pointed out that if items were genuinely suspected of being explosives, they should not have been placed in regular trash bins inside the venue. Standard protocol for suspected threats involves isolation and bomb disposal procedures.
Gift-giving at conventions has become a complicated issue for VTubers. Many creators restrict what they accept due to legitimate security concerns. The most cited case involves VTuber Camila, who in 2023 reported finding a tracker hidden in a fan gift. A break-in attempt at her location followed shortly after.
Because of these risks, many VTubers now decline physical gifts entirely or only accept flat items like artwork. Others provide PO boxes or digital alternatives. Convention organizers typically advise creators to either manage gifts through personal staff or refuse them completely to avoid liability issues.
IronMouse relies heavily on event staff for logistics since she cannot attend conventions in person due to a severe immune condition. This makes clear communication about gift handling even more critical for her appearances.
When policy meets reality
The core complaint from attendees was not that gifts were refused. Fans said staff should have simply told them upfront that items would not be accepted. Instead, staff reportedly took custody of the gifts and disposed of them without informing either the fans or the VTubers.
No official statement from Twitch or the venue has been released addressing the reported incidents. It remains unclear whether disposal of gifts was part of an official policy, a decision by individual staff members, or a miscommunication between different teams managing the event.
