Twitch’s biggest streamer, Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, doesn’t stream with women. He’s spoken about his decision before, explaining that “it’s just not worth it” to face the potential drama and rumors that might occur as a result. Last week, he echoed that sentiment again to The Verge’s sister site Polygon. “If I have one conversation with one female streamer where we’re playing with one another, and even if there’s a hint of flirting, that is going to be taken and going to be put on every single video and be clickbait forever,” he said.

Unsurprisingly, Blevins’ belief that “the only way to avoid that [gossip] is to not play with [women] at all,” has been divisive. Blevins is inarguably popular, a streamer with more than 16 million subscribers on YouTube, 10 million on Twitch, and over 3 million followers on Twitter. His platform and fame allow him a unique opportunity to set trends within his industry and speak to a wide, rapt audience. Streaming with others is an endorsement. It allows him to share his spotlight, thereby helping other streams to expand their own audiences. By not playing with women, Blevins is sending a message — whether he means to or not.

On Twitter, many have been critical of his stance. “No one is saying Ninja has to stream with women,” said illustrator and streamer Austen Marie. “We’re saying that his saying he won’t is problematic and doesn’t help in any way for women making their way in the industry that constantly calls anyone with tits a thot.” Researcher Kat Lo tweeted, “there’s something poetic about Ninja thinking ‘wow women in gaming have to deal with a deeply toxic culture of men attacking them and speculating about their lives. I wouldn’t want that in my life sooo I won’t work with women phew problem solved’ then tweeting that without irony.” Others have likened him to Vice President Mike Pence and his notorious policy of not dining alone with women.

“the issue I’m addressing is online harassment.”

In response to backlash from within and out of the streaming community, Ninja issued a statement via Twitter. “While I understand some people have implied my views mean I have something against playing with women, I want to make clear the issue I’m addressing is online harassment, and my attempt to minimize it from our life,” he says. “It is something that affects all streamers, especially ones that make their relationships public. I wanted to bring attention to this issue and my comments should not be characterized as anything beyond that.

“Have just celebrated my one year anniversary, my wife and my family will always be the most important thing to me and I am doing my best to protect them.”

The circumstances surrounding Blevins’ stance are sticky. As the foremost Fortnite streamer, Blevins has the power to take a stance against the sort of harassment he’s speaking of. Twitch is notoriously thorny for women. Some female streamers are stamped as “Twitch thots,” harassed, and doxxed. Sidelining women only alienates them further. It perpetuates a system in which they are denied the same opportunities as male streamers simply because of their gender. Blevins doesn’t have to stream with anyone — but by declaring that playing with women is “just not worth it,” he’s contributing to false narratives that men and women can’t coexist in non-sexual relationships.

Blevins’ fear of harassment cannot be ignored or underplayed, either. Online celebrities are entitled to their privacy, even when part of their job requires them to let viewers in. Creators facing blowback from fans over feelings of ownership or entitlement is, sadly, a well-documented occurrence: viewers who consider themselves privy to the relationships and personal lives of their favorite stars, whether it’s women on Twitch, YouTube power couples, or live vloggers.

As Fortnite streamer Valkyrae put it, “YouTube clips/clickbaits the worst for views. People are gullible. To hear rumors like ‘I heard he’s cheating on you’ is 24/7 toxic to a relationship. Respect decisions that limit drama in people’s personal lives.” Streamer Laura Lux urged people to be mad “at the community mentality” instead. “Y’all if @Ninja actually did stream with a girl it would be a disaster,” she tweeted. “this community is a toxic sexist shitshow and she would be labeled his side bitch, relentlessly harassed for being a homewrecking slut and spammed with ‘begone thot’ trolls etc etc etc fuck that.”

Blevins’ response is disappointing, even shortsighted. But while problematic, it’s not the entire problem; it’s the symptom of a larger disease. If Twitch’s most popular streamer feels helpless in the face of online fans and rumor mongering, what chance does anyone else have?