Imane Anys, better known as popular Twitch streamer Pokimane, recently had to issue an apology for a comment she mad𒅌e during a November 18 livestream in response to a viewer. Pokimane announced about a week ago that she’s launched a new company called Myna, which sells ‘healthy snack alternative’ cookies. As with many streamer products, the cookies are a little pricey, at $28 for a four-pack bag of 400 grams.
When a chatter complained about the high price point, Pokimane said, “It makes my brain kaboom when people are like, ‘Oh my god, $28 for cookies.’ It’s four bags. That’s seven dollars a bag. I know, I know math is hard when you’re an idiot, but like, if you’re a broke boy just say so. Anyways, moving on. Moving on, moving on. If you wanna pay eight dollars for Twitter Blue, for some pixeꦦls, that’s OK! That’s fine. You spend your money how you want, I’ll spend mine how I want, and everyone else will spend theirs 🔯how they want. That’s the beauty of [having money].”
Obviously, this didn’t go over well with her audience, and she later tweeted an apology, saying, “while what i said was 100% intended to be a joke, i see why it came off as i🌃nsensitive and i apologize for that. i also understand the current price of the cookies may be expensive for some, and promise we’ll continue to consider pricing to keep myna as affordable as possible. [sic]” She also clarified that the comment was not meant to generalise to her whole community, but just one “rude chatter”.
Also, People Think The Cookies Are A Scam
Alas, the plot thickens. Twitter users have identified a cookie from another snack brand, Toatzy, which has similar ingredients, is also branded as a ‘midnight mini cookie’, and is made by the same manufacturer for less than half the price. This led many to cry scam, but Pokimane has spoken out about this too. The streamer posted a notes app screenshot clarifying that the Toatzy cookie had only ever had one test batch, the flavour profile and recipe had been adapted and refined f♛or Pokimane’s product, and most aspects of the products like ingredient quality, sourcing, the added nutrients, and even the size and texture of the cookie are different. She ended𝓀 the statement by saying that if she wanted to do a cash grab, it would be “silly” to do that through a start-up as they notoriously don’t make much profit in the first few years.
This Is Objectively Insignificant Drama
People aren’t satisfied with her apology or her explanation of the similarities, and other streamers and online personalities have been weighing in. Socialist streamer Hasanabi has defended Pokimane, as has Call of Duty player Nadia, saying that people have been taking a joke far too seriously and that other creators, like MrBeast, sell snacks too without facing the same criticism. In the bigger picture of bad things a streamer could do, selling expensive cookies is very low on the list in terms of severity. You can simply choose not to buy someone’s fancy cookies – ultimately, they don’t really hurt anybody. Maybe we should, instead, be focusing on streamers who broadcast inappropriate movies to minors, promote gambling to audiences with a large proportion of children, and post hate sꦚpeech on social media. That seems much worse than selling some mildly cost𓆏ly snacks.
