Twitch streamer breaks back in two places at TwitchCon
Posted Oct 10, 2022 7:11 pm.
Last Updated Oct 11, 2022 3:25 pm.
A Twitch streamer broke her back after jumping into a foam pit Sunday at TwitchCon, a convention that features live streamers, video game competitors, and other cultures on the platform.
The streamer and well-known adult film actress, Adriana Chechik, was participating at the weekend convention, and was at a booth engaged in a “gladiatorial” style game over a foam pit.
In the video, after a back-and-forth between her and EdyBot, another streamer, that saw Chechik win, she jumped into the air, kicked her legs out, and fell into the pit butt-first. Afterward, she is seen moving slowly on her belly, then not moving at all.
The pit looks to be a couple of feet deep, compared to industry standard pits that are around three and a half feet.
Foam pits and recreational gymnastics facilities in the U.S. aren’t regulated.
Probably the most painful thing I’ve seen in awhile. Twitch streamer Adriana Chechik has confirmed broken her back in two separate places following this jump at TwitchCon pic.twitter.com/QdojGn5UtG
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) October 9, 2022
Chechik confirmed over Twitter that she broke her back in two places and requires metal rods in her back.
Well, I broke my back in two places and am getting surgery to put a meter rod in for support today. Send your support. When it rains it pours and I am definitely feeling the rain right now.
— adriana chechik (@adrianachechik) October 9, 2022
Two breaks in my back, metal rods in my back and a bruised ego this weekend. https://t.co/UTdpjmeDmh
— AdrianaChechikTV (@ChechikTv) October 10, 2022
People responded on Twitter by alleging that other people also injured themselves at the foam pit.
LochVaness, another Twitch streamer, says she injured her ankle and dislocated her knee while dismounting the platform.
Listen guys, I promiseI’m okay. Catch me beeping around Twitchcon! ???? pic.twitter.com/pzHSuZAmKQ
— LochVaness (@loch_vaness) October 9, 2022
Chechik says the responsibility falls with Lenovo for not “properly setting up their both for safety,” and that the company “told people to dive, [they] told people to walk it off.”
The shouts of “I cant get up” and “medic!” Were met with sarcastic “gravity…” and “no no she’s fine”
— WisKy BB-64 ????⚓️ 【VFleet】 (@WisKy64VT) October 10, 2022
Chechik also says that Lenovo Legion, a brand of computers marketed to video game enthusiasts, said people could dive in no problem. The pit was hosted by Lenovo, not Twitch.
Participants also had to fill out waivers at the station for liability purposes.
Yeah and unfortunately we can do shit about it cause we had to sign a waiver too.
— LochVaness (@loch_vaness) October 9, 2022
There have been some saying the waiver wouldn’t protect the company from lawsuit due to “blatant negligence.”
https://twitter.com/CaramelizedBoi_/status/1579168821356945408
The brand is confirmed to have closed its booth Sunday after the incidents at around 12 p.m.
In footage that Lenovo Legion shared to Twitch, the commentators overseeing the event are heard saying “No, no, she is fine,” and looked unconcerned with the injury.
Another video that was shared to Twitter shows the company saying they are “all about safety here at Lenovo,” even saying it’s about having fun and “jumping into the foam at the end.”
"Its all about safety here at Lenovo, at the end of the day its about having fun and jumping into the foam at the end…"
— HexlesNZ (@hexles) October 10, 2022
The hashtag #boycotttwitch has surfaced due to the injuries sustained by the streamers, but also for other reasons that happened at the event.
This is what a foam pit, with foam cubes is mint to look like, not 1ft deep with nothing else, gross misconduct by twitch #BoycottTwitch pic.twitter.com/8czFrzlLDj
— Vanity lover (@rover_west) October 9, 2022
#boycotttwitch because
a person broke their back in an
unsafe pitthe staff misgendered streamers
lack of planning leads to dangerous crowds
Sexual assault/spiked drinks that twitch didnt do anything about
Revenue split
Treatment of disabled people
Ccs getting stalked
— Trashy Pandius-Strange (@Trashypandius) October 10, 2022
Twitch says they have over 25 million people watching at any given moment, according to stats listed on its website.
TwitchCon is held twice a year in Europe and in the U.S., and is a celebration of the streaming service, the streamers and fans involved.
CityNews has reached out to Lenovo for further comment.