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Darren Jason Watkins Jr. (born January 21, 2005), better known as IShowSpeed or simply Speed, is an American YouTuber and online streamer. He is regarded as one of the most popular online streamers and Internet personalities in the world.[2][3] Watkins is known for his dramatic and energetic behavior he displays during his variety live streams, including in-real-life streams conducted in various worldwide locations. He has been viewed as a cultural ambassador as he visits countries often to showcase their cultures and inventions to both domestic and international audiences.[4]
Watkins was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Registering his YouTube channel in 2016, he first posted gaming content. Watkins started gaining attention in 2021 due to his violent verbal and physical reactions when gaming.[5] In 2022, he began shifting focus towards soccer-related content, becoming an avid supporter of Cristiano Ronaldo, commonly revolving his content around his support for the player.[6][7]
Darren Jason Watkins Jr. was born on January 21, 2005, in Cincinnati, Ohio.[12][13] He is the son of Darren Watkins Sr., a content creator, and a mother of Ghanaian descent.[14][15] Watkins has two younger siblings, including a brother named Jamal (also known as Dian) who broadcasts on YouTube.[16][17] Through his paternal lineage, he is the great-grandson of Harold Watkins, who became the first African-American fire chief of the Detroit Fire Department in 1988.[18]
Watkins was raised in the Bond Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati.[19] He attended Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy for elementary school and subsequently enrolled at Purcell Marian High School.[20] During his childhood, Watkins acquired the nickname "Speedy" due to his athleticism and habit of running from dogs.[21][17] In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a video clip of Watkins reacting aggressively to a video game was reposted by the media outlet WorldStarHipHop; the resulting negative comments caused a conflict between Watkins and his mother.[17] Consequently, Watkins moved to Detroit, Michigan, to live with his father.[17] There, he shared a bedroom with his uncle and began livestreaming full-time using a PlayStation 4 camera.[17]
2016–2021: Origins, early content, and platform bans
Watkins interacting with fans in 2021
Watkins registered his YouTube channel "IShowSpeed" in 2016, though he initially uploaded gameplay clips only occasionally.[22] He began consistent livestreaming in December 2017, broadcasting games such as NBA 2K and Fortnite.[23] His early streams averaged a low viewership; by 2020, he averaged approximately ten concurrent viewers per broadcast.[23]
His viewership increased significantly in 2021; his channel grew from 100,000 subscribers in April 2021 to 1million in June 2021.[23] This growth was supported by clips of his behavior during livestreams—often characterized by aggressive outbursts directed at games, players, and his camera—which circulated on TikTok as memes.[22]Kotaku described Watkins as "one of the biggest and fastest-rising streamers" on YouTube during this period.[22]
Watkins's conduct resulted in bans from multiple platforms. In December 2021, he participated in a Twitch "e-dating" livestream hosted by Adin Ross. During the broadcast, Watkins made comments to participant Ash Kash that Twitch moderation interpreted as a threat of sexual violence.[24] Ross disconnected Watkins from the call; however, Watkins rejoined and directed further aggressive remarks at Kash. Twitch subsequently banned Watkins from the platform for "sexual coercion or intimidation".[24] The platform reinstated his account nearly two years later, on October 10, 2023.[25]
Watkins visibly stifling a laugh in response to a fan's emotional statement that their mother is "kind of homeless".
On December 29, 2021, during a four-hour-and-23-minute livestream titled "EARLY STREAM!", Watkins participated in a Fortnite match that spawned a viral internet meme.[‡ 1][26][27] During the game, a teammate with the username "Acey Daddy" requested that Watkins help him win, stating, "Please, Speed, I need this! My mom is kind of homeless."[28] Watkins responded by visibly suppressing laughter while a third player, "Pew is Daddy", scolded him for his reaction.[27] The clip became a viral meme on platforms such as TikTok; the stream itself later attained a 10/10 rating on IMDb, briefly surpassing the Breaking Bad episode "Ozymandias" in user ratings.[26][27]
Watkins organized a reunion with the two players in October 2025.[28] During the stream, "Acey Daddy" confirmed that his mother's housing situation had improved.[28] The player's mother appeared on the livestream and scolded Watkins for laughing at her situation in 2021.[28]
2022–2023: Initial popularity
In April 2022, a clip of Watkins playing Valorant on a live stream surfaced online. In the video, he tells a female player: "Get off the fucking game and do your husband's dishes."[29] This resulted in one of the game's producers, Sara Dadafshar, permanently banning Watkins from Valorant and all other Riot Games titles.[30][31] YouTube's global head of gaming creators, Lester Chen, replied to the clip, stating he was "on it."[22] Watkins subsequently apologized for his behavior, acknowledging that it was "wrong", and claimed that he had received racist comments from other players that day.[29]
On July 4, 2022, during Independence Day, Watkins set off a Pikachu firework inside his bedroom, which filled the room with smoke and led to a response from the fire department.[32] He reached 10 million subscribers on YouTube later that month.[33] In late July 2022, Watkins received a community guidelines strike and a one-week ban on YouTube after livestreaming a sexual Minecraft mod named "Jenny's Mod" to 96,000 live viewers. The broadcast displayed explicit sexual activity involving his in-game character. Watkins initially censored the screen but later accidentally revealed the content.[34][35]
In August 2022, Watkins was swatted while livestreaming on YouTube. Officers handcuffed him, and his cameraman was forced to end the broadcast.[36] He later claimed that he had been jailed and that Adin Ross had posted his bail, allowing him to return to streaming on August 11.[37] In September 2022, Watkins participated in the Sidemen Charity Match.[38] During the match, he became frustrated at referee Mark Clattenburg for disallowing a goal due to offside; Watkins whipped Clattenburg with the jersey he had removed during his celebration, receiving a yellow card.[39]
In November 2022, Sky Sports announced that they would cease featuring Watkins on their platforms after past misogynistic and derogatory comments resurfaced.[40] The broadcaster removed all content featuring him from their social media channels and website.[41] On November 16, Watkins faced criticism for allegedly promoting a cryptocurrency scam known as a "pump and dump scheme" during a livestream for The Paradox Metaverse, an open-world game.[42][43] The following day, he apologized, stating: "I made a mistake that I wish I never did but I'm not a scammer."[44]
In December 2022, Watkins won the "Breakout Streamer" award at the 12th Streamy Awards.[45] That same month, during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he generated controversy for his behavior toward a Chinese spectator in Qatar. During a livestream, he approached a man wearing an Argentina jersey; when the man indicated he did not speak English, Watkins repeatedly said "Konnichiwa" and uttered sounds reminiscent of Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese. Following backlash, he uploaded an apology video to Twitter.[46]
By August 2023, Watkins surpassed 20 million subscribers on YouTube.[49] On August 16, he accidentally exposed himself to a live audience of 25,000 viewers while playing Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach after being startled by a jump scare.[50][51] The incident became a trending topic on social media platforms.[52] YouTube did not ban Watkins for the incident.[53] In December 2023, Watkins participated in a charity boxing sparring session with KSI, raising funds for the Anthony Walker Foundation.[54]
2024–present: Travel content, streamer of the year and continued growth
Watkins walking through the streets of Chinatown, Singapore, during his Southeast Asia tour in September 2024
On May 29, 2024, Watkins attended the annual Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake in Gloucestershire, England, during which he suffered a leg injury, which he claimed required hospitalization.[59] In June and July 2024, during the UEFA Euro 2024, Watkins toured Europe, reaching 25 million subscribers on June 2.[60] On July 3, Watkins visited Norway, where he streamed in a souvenir store. While interacting with a large gathering of fans from a second story window, he injured his ankle. Upon being escorted out by a bodyguard, Watkins was attacked by the crowd,[61] and would be hospitalized.[62] Watkins's tour of Europe received over 2.5 billion views across multiple social media platforms.[63]
On August 3, 2024, Watkins performed a live-streamed stunt where he jumped over two speeding luxury cars in Miami. The stream was then deleted on August 5, due to violating YouTube's Terms of Service.[66][67][68] While on tour in Southeast Asia, he surpassed 30 million subscribers and accumulated a total of 110 million views for the duration of the trip. One of Watkins's livestreams, titled "IRL Stream in Indonesia", marked the first time an English-speaking streamer has received one million concurrent viewers in a livestream.[69][70][2]
In December 2024, Watkins was nominated for and won the "Get Off Your A** Award (Best IRL Streamer)", "Best International Streamer", and "Streamer of the Year" awards of the 2024 Streamer Awards.[10][76] Later that month he won the "Most Influential Soccer Creator" award of the GOAL Champions Awards.[77]
Watkins making his entrance at WWE Royal Rumble in February 2025
On January 10, 2025, Watkins announced that he would be doing a tour in South America.[78] On January 28, during his tour in Peru, he was declared an honorary mayor of Lima for an hour by Rafael López Aliaga, the city's mayor, who also declared him an "ambassador of Lima".[79]
On February 1, 2025, Watkins appeared in WWE's Royal Rumble, when Akira Tozawa, the planned 8th entrant, was considered unable to compete in the match. Watkins substituted for Tozawa. Watkins managed to eliminate Otis with Bron Breakker but then got speared by Bron Breakker shortly after. Outside of the ring, Otis caught Watkins, but subsequently proceeded to throw him over the announcer's table — eliminating him.[80]
Later on February 14, 2025, Watkins participated in "Match for Hope 2025", a soccer charity event hosted in Stadium 974, Qatar, as a co-captain for Team Chunkz & IShowSpeed, facing off against team AboFlah & KSI. The match ended with team AboFlah & KSI's 6–5 victory over team Chunkz & IShowSpeed. The event managed to raise more than $10.7 million for charity.[81][82]
On March 5, 2025, Watkins was featured on CBS Sports Golazo's coverage of the UEFA Champions League.[83] Later on March 8, 2025, Watkins participated in the 2025 Sidemen Charity Match, held at Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom. Serving as both captain and player for the YouTube Allstars team, he scored his first goal in the charity match series in the 56th minute, having failed to score in his previous two appearances. Watkins later secured victory for the YouTube Allstars by converting the decisive penalty in a shoot-out.[84][85]
On March 18, 2025, Watkins announced that he would be doing a tour in mainland China and Mongolia.[86][87] During his tour, Chinese state media and Chinese netizens praised Watkins for "promoting positive relations between China and the United States".[88][89][87] In contrast to his streams in mainland China, Watkins's stream in Hong Kong was chaotic due to overcrowding and harassment by local fans; his ride on the MTR led to fans causing damage to Tin Hau station.[90]
A map showing the countries IShowSpeed has visited on his livestreams
United States
Visited by IShowSpeed
On May 5, 2025, Watkins was swatted at a KFC store during a Cinco de Mayo IRL livestream.[92]
On July 5, 2025, Watkins announced a second tour to Europe, he also began streaming on Twitch for the first time in four years.[93] On July 9 Watkins visited Serbia[94] and there he met Baka Prase, who gave him a €30,000[95]Rolex as a gift.[96][97] In Latvia, Watkins's behavior on the base of the Freedom Monument[98] and the payment of 30,000 euros from the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia towards Watkins's travel expenses drew criticism from the Latvian public.[99] Later on July 22, Watkins participated in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, participating alongside USMNT and Orlando City player Alex Freeman in the shooting and passing challenges, although his score was not counted towards the overall result. Watkins also presented Houston Dynamo 2 goalkeeper Pedro Cruz with the winner's belt after his victory in the Goalie Wars event.[100]
On August 28, 2025, Watkins began the "Speed Does America" tour, a 35-day, 24/7 livestreaming trip across the United States, during which he streamed continuously on both YouTube and Twitch while visiting 25 states.[101] That same month, Rolling Stone named him its "Most Influential Creator of 2025".[102]
Two purchasable outfits based on Watkins's likeness were added to Fortnite Battle Royale on December 25, 2025.[107]
On December 29, 2025, Watkins began the "Speed Does Africa" tour, where he livestreamed visiting 20 African countries in 28 days.[108] During his tour of Egypt, Watkins became the first content creator to stream inside the Great Pyramid of Giza.[109] While touring in Nigeria, he celebrated his 21st birthday on January 21, 2026, while his YouTube channel surpassed 50 million subscribers that same day.[110][111] After his visit to Ghana, it was announced that he had been granted Ghanaian citizenship.[112]
Music career
In August 2021, Watkins released his first single, "Dooty Booty", on his YouTube channel. Following its upload, the song quickly became popular on YouTube and other social media sites, such as TikTok.[113] In November, Watkins released a single titled "Shake", which sampled both "Ready or Not" by the Fugees and "Hit The Road Jack" by Ray Charles. The song's accompanying music video received over 211 million views on YouTube.[114][115]
In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):
↑Watkins, Darren (IShowSpeed) (December 29, 2021). EARLY STREAM!. Google. Archived from the original on February 2, 2026. Retrieved February 3, 2026– via YouTube.
† = category was merged from others ‡ = category was renamed
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