Pokimane Reveals Breakup

Pokimane has opened up about the end of a significant romantic relationship. The YouTube content creator, real name Imane Anys, known for her frank discussions on various topics during her nearly decade-long reign as one of Twitch‘s most prominent figures, has typically maintained a tight-lipped stance on her personal life.

The streaming star, who recently made waves by departing Twitch for YouTube, citing a desire for fresh opportunities and to distance herself from “so much manosphere, red pill, bulls—”, has now shared an unexpected glimpse into her private world. In a recent video, the streamer opened up about the dissolution of her long-term partnership, though she refrained from divulging the identity of her former flame.

“I’ve never really talked about a breakup before, and because I don’t really date people in the public eye, it doesn’t really feel like it makes sense to either. But I felt like this one might be interesting to discuss for a couple reasons,” Pokimane revealed in her video.

While keeping the details of her ex-partner and the reasons for their split under wraps, Pokimane did acknowledge the unique nature of this particular breakup. She reflected, “Frankly, this breakup feels different than past ones. […] When you’re in your mid-to-late-twenties, and when you start envisioning a life with someone, speaking about marriage and kids, and really being in that headspace and planning for your future, and then all of that kind of dissolves, it’s a lot to process.”

Despite Pokimane’s efforts to shield her former partner’s identity, speculation among her fanbase has run rampant. Some followers believe the mystery man to be Kevin Kim, who made his debut on her stream in 2021 with the playful query, “Dating or siblings?” Although Kim isn’t a content creator himself and has minimal online presence, he has appeared alongside Pokimane in several streams, including a humorous segment where they jokingly drafted a contract for a cooking show collaboration.

Adding fuel to the speculation, Kim was spotted at Pokimane’s table during the 2023 Streamer Awards. In her vlog recapping the event, Pokimane coyly remarked, “And there was a random, handsome man sat beside me.” However, it’s important to note that these interactions don’t conclusively prove a romantic involvement between Pokimane and Kim, as they could simply be close friends.

Throughout her career, Pokimane has been the subject of numerous relationship rumors. She was previously linked to fellow streamer Fedmyster, a claim she promptly dismissed. Memes suggesting a romance with streamer HasanAbi circulated widely, but Pokimane labeled these speculations as “gross” and denied any truth to them. Additional unfounded rumors connected her to League of Legends player Meteos Bjergsen and streamer Cameron McKay, both of whom refuted the claims. Bjergsen labeled Pokimane as a “good friend,” while McKay called the rumor “a joke.”

Despite her past reluctance regarding her love life, Pokimane has expressed a desire to be more transparent about her personal experiences moving forward. In her most recent YouTube video, she stated that she “wants to be more open about her life in the future.”