QTCinderella wants events to unite streamers amid controversy

The Gala for Good, a charity event featuring many of Twitch’s top celebrities, has a secret second use: helping streamers get along. Blaire who is known online as QTCinderella organized the charity live event. The event raised more than $250,000 in total for rainforest conservation organizations. But the event didn’t just raise money; it also served to build community among creators, which has always been a focus of the popular streamer’s work.

“I love bringing people together. I love seeing everyone. It feels like a family reunion whenever you get everyone in the same room,” she told Polygon via voice chat.

Blaire says the streamer event will be just another in a long list of activities that are bringing together streamers. Blaire organized the second annual Streamer Awards and other events such as Shitcamp in spring of 2023. Blaire talked with Polygon after TwitchCon to discuss her charitable work, creating community amongst streamers and the pressures of being an online figure.

Blaire set a goal of organizing two major events each year before The Gala for Good. She’d already run The Streamer Awards, but that meant an entire year would pass until the community got together again. She began to consider other options. A self-described “pathological people-pleaser,” she read comments online that pointed out the extravagant lifestyles of creators and questioned how these creators give back. After pondering what she could accomplish, she came up with the idea of a gala.

“I thought, Something I’m really good at is getting people together. And so if I could get people together and make it a special event or charity, then that’s what I wanted to do,” Blaire said.

The event quickly drummed up buzz, as it brought together a who’s who of the streaming world. Hasan Piker and Ludwig Ahgren were among the top creators who shared their platforms with others and donated to this event. Blaire assisted in the auction of items such as dates with streamingers and a gradated copy The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of TimeAhgren signed the document. It was a mix of the formality of rainforest themed outfits, and more informal antics of a bunch of friends. Ahgren was dressed in MSCHF Crocs, a banana costume and giant costumes.

Blaire says that these events help build community, especially in times of internet controversy.

“It reestablishes relationships. I think that’s so important in this industry, when people are very often pitted against each other, unbeknownst to them. It’s not survival of the fittest. That’s not what streaming is. That’s not what it should be. All of us were working together. And that’s what I hope I represent as a streamer.”

Popularity and controversy go hand in hand. These personalities are followed by millions. Parasocial relationships between fans and creators can encourage fans to interpret events in a way that is not accurate.

“It’s the hardest job I’ve ever had. “I wish that I was understood.” But you’ll never be understood on the internet. Each person decides on their own story. The people that you choose to surround yourself with will determine how well you are understood. It’s so incredible sometimes to see, like, Oh, I thought so-and-so hated so-and-so but then they’re at lunch together the day after the streamer awards. No, they didn’t. You guys made that up like that never existed.”

“It’s definitely something that I didn’t expect,” she added. “I thought it was so simple. Like, if I say this, then that’s what I mean. Like, if I say, ‘I like the color blue,’ then I like the color blue. But no, no. That means I don’t like the color purple. What? What? What? It’s very silly, but you just have to — I go to a lot of therapy and I’m proud of that.”