Destiny (streamer) explained

Destiny
Birth Name:Steven Kenneth Bonnell II
Birth Date:12 December 1988[1]
Birth Place:Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Spouse:[2]
Children:1
Years Active:2013–present
Silver Button:y
Silver Year:2018
Stats Update:August 4, 2024
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Channel Name:Destiny
Genre:Politics/Gaming
Years Active:2011–2022
Followers:699,700 (before his indefinite suspension)
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Followers:196.2 thousand
Follower Date:August 4, 2024
Page Display Name:destinydebates
Like Date:August 4, 2024
Likes:7.8 million
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Page:destiny
Page Display Name:destiny
Followers:100 thousand
Followers Date:August 4, 2024

Steven Kenneth Bonnell II (born December 12, 1988), known online as Destiny, is an American live-streamer and political commentator. He was among the first people to stream video games online full-time and received attention as a pioneer of the industry.[3] Since 2016, he has garnered further attention for streaming political debates with other online personalities, in which he advocates for progressivism and liberal politics.[4] The New York Times has described Bonnell as a liberal,[5] while Bonnell has described himself as "a very big social democrat".

Early life

Steven Kenneth Bonnell II was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to a Cuban-American mother and a White American father. He was raised in a conservative Catholic home, and he attended Creighton Preparatory School, a private Jesuit high school for boys.[6] When he was a pre-teen, his mother's home day care business collapsed, and his family's home was foreclosed. A few years later his parents moved to take care of an aging relative, after which he lived with his grandmother until he was 18. During his childhood, Bonnell played Japanese role-playing games, which he says made him an adept reader.

In 2007, Bonnell enrolled at the University of Nebraska Omaha, where he studied music while working night shifts as a restaurant manager at a casino. Ultimately unable to juggle both his education and full-time work, Bonnell dropped out of college in 2010. Soon after, he was fired from his restaurant position, which he blamed on poor social skills such as empathy.

He later found work as a carpet cleaner, working 12-hour days for commission. His average pay was $34 an hour (equivalent to $ an hour in).

Career

In 2011, Bonnell quit his job as a carpet cleaner to stream video games full-time. Streaming his Starcraft II matches on livestream.com and ustream.tv,[7] then Justin.tv (now Twitch), he was immediately financially successful.[8] In October of that year, Bonnell joined professional team Quantic Gaming and placed 4th in the 2011 MLG Global North American invitational.[9] During his years as a Starcraft II streamer, Bonnell was known for his abrasive and confrontational style, including use of "acerbic and often offensive" comments against other players for shock humor.

Starting in 2016, Bonnell has gained attention for live-streaming political debates with other internet personalities. Bonnell debated popular YouTuber Jon Jafari, better known as JonTron, on immigration and assimilation in March 2017, after Jafari tweeted in support of anti-immigration statements by Republican congressman Steve King. In his debate with Bonnell, Jafari's statements concerning race, crime, and immigration were seen as controversial by viewers, and the subsequent backlash garnered media attention.[10] [11] [12] [13]

In November 2018, Bonnell and fellow streamer Trihex (Mychal Ramon Jefferson) premiered a political commentary collaboration, The DT Podcast. The podcast streamed its final episode in October 2019, during which Jefferson confronted Bonnell regarding statements the latter had made defending his use of offensive humor—including racial slurs—in private.[14]

In 2021, Bonnell debated Marxian economist Richard D. Wolff, with Bonnell defending capitalism. In that debate, Bonnell described the label of "socialism" as poorly defined, and noted a history of famine and abuses in countries like the Soviet Union and China, while Wolff responded by attempting to correct perceived misrepresentations from Bonnell of his views on socialism throughout the debate.[15] Bonnell has cited his poverty during his teenage and college-aged years as an influence on his views, and says that he prefers to argue based on empirical data rather than moral suasion.

In March 2022, Bonnell was indefinitely banned from Twitch due to "hateful conduct".[16] [17] Dot Esports speculates that this may have been due to Bonnell streaming with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, who had previously been banned from the platform.[18]

In September 2023, Bonnell, alongside other political streamers such as Vaush, Emma Vigeland (co-host of The Majority Report with Sam Seder), and Keffals, interviewed U.S. Representative Ro Khanna about various topics, including the importance of youth political participation and ways to push progressive political sentiment, as well as asking questions about Khanna.[19] [20] [21]

In March 2024, he appeared on the Lex Fridman Podcast in a debate with Norman Finkelstein, historian Benny Morris, and political analyst Mouin Rabbani regarding the Israeli–Hamas conflict.[22]

Political views

Political ideology

Bonnell identified as a libertarian in 2016, but his politics began shifting toward liberalism after an incident in which he heard another streamer call a gay person a "fucking faggot". Bonnell has argued against certain aspects of both far-right politics and far-left politics. Furthermore, he has promoted the idea that college campuses should have students who have diverse opinions, in order to reduce polarization.[23]

In 2019, Bonnell began debating in favor of capitalism against socialists and communists. Bonnell has stated that his intention is not to persuade their opponents, but to persuade the audience; although he has expressed that airing his opinions often feels "like screaming into the void", he estimates he has received hundreds of emails from former members of the alt-right crediting him for their conversion to left-wing politics. Subsequent journalistic and academic coverage of right-wing YouTube commentary has credited Bonnell as an early and effective opposition to it, particularly owing to his provocative, combative debate style which appeals to right-wing gaming audiences. In March 2022, after his ban from Twitch, Bonnell speculated that the ban reason may have been linked to his expressing the view that "trans women shouldn't compete with cis women in women's athletics".

Political violence

Bonnell was notified in September 2020 that his Twitch partnership agreement would be terminated the following month for "encouragement of violence". The termination came as a result of comments made on-stream after the Kenosha unrest shooting, in which Bonnell expressed opposition to riots at the George Floyd protests.[24] Bonnell said that:[25] [26] Bonnell later said that Kyle Rittenhouse was clearly misguided, but that his frustration was with rioters who Bonnell believed would scare people into voting for Donald Trump again.[27]

After the 2024 assassination attempt of Donald Trump, Destiny stated that Trump and his supporters "reap what they sow, and I’m here to watch the harvest".[28]

Israel

Following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, Bonnell has expressed interest in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He has shown sympathy for Israel, stating, "The Palestinians are oppressed by all the Arab countries, and no country from them, which is supposed to be on 'their' side, has bothered to offer them a real solution — and yet, their anger is directed fully at Israel, and unjustifiably in my opinion."[29]

In March 2024, he appeared on the Lex Fridman Podcast in a debate with Norman Finkelstein, historian Benny Morris, and political analyst Mouin Rabbani regarding the Israeli–Hamas conflict.

Economics

In a conversation about immigration with the YouTuber Carl Benjamin, popularly called "Sargon of Akkad," Bonnell expressed his general view that, because immigration lowers the cost of labor for companies hiring low-wage earners, it is good to have high levels of immigration. Furthermore, in order to fix the wealth disparity caused by both the lowered wages of low-wage earners and the heightened wages of high-wage earners, Bonnell proposed raising taxes on the wealthy and distributing their earnings to the poor.[30]

Canvassing

In 2020, Bonnell supported the general election campaign of Joe Biden.[31] Following Biden's victory, Bonnell led a canvassing campaign in support of Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in the 2020–21 Georgia Senate runoffs.[32] With the help of approximately 140 volunteers mobilized from Bonnell's online audience, the campaign knocked on an estimated 17,500–20,000 doors in Columbus, Georgia, making it one of the larger campaigns of the election.[33] Bonnell led another canvassing operation in support of Mark Gudgel for the 2021 Omaha mayoral election.[34] On March 3, 2021, Gudgel officially cut ties with Bonnell over the latter's statements regarding riots at the George Floyd protests.[35] [26]

In February 2024, Bonnell spearheaded canvassing efforts by political activist group Progressive Victory in Cincinnati.[36]

Personal life

Bonnell lived in Nebraska before relocating to the Los Angeles area in December 2018. In late 2021, he moved to Miami, Florida.[37]

Bonnell has been married twice and has a son.[38] He is openly bisexual and his second marriage was an open marriage with Swedish streamer Melina Göransson.[39] [40] Bonnell and Göransson married in December 2021.[41] They separated and filed for divorce in December 2023.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Omni Liberal. 2023-12-08.
  2. Web site: Yemen History Kick or Keep tonight @ 6 EST . Steven . Bonnell . Jan 22, 2024. . 2024-07-25. 1:44:50.
  3. Web site: McCormick. Rich. August 26, 2014. This is why people want to watch other people play video games. live. https://archive.today/20200628200252/https://www.theverge.com/2014/8/26/6068993/this-is-why-people-want-to-watch-other-people-play-video-games. June 28, 2020. 13 March 2019. The Verge.
  4. News: Quirk. Trevor. January 15, 2020. Can This Notorious Troll Turn People Away From Extremism?. en. Wired. live. 2020-04-16. https://archive.today/20200628200339/https://www.wired.com/story/twitch-politics-online-debate/. June 28, 2020. 1059-1028.
  5. News: Roose . Kevin . 2019-06-08 . The Making of a YouTube Radical (Published 2019) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210522212633/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/08/technology/youtube-radical.html . May 22, 2021 . 2020-12-26 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
  6. News: Breland. Ali. 2020-04-01. Steve Bonnell Made Big Bucks Following a Simple Plan: Play Video Games. Troll Your Fans. Fight the Online Right.. Mother Jones. 2020-06-30. June 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200630104540/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/04/destiny-twitch/. live.
  7. . 2 September 2022 . The Destiny Interview: Relationships, Trans Rights, Trump, Keffals & More . Video . 4 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220904050711/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU2fo-sxd1M . September 4, 2022 . 13:40 . live .
  8. July 1, 2013. Inside the new world of 24/7 on-demand videogame TV. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130707111129/http://www.edge-online.com/features/inside-the-new-world-of-247-on-demand-videogame-tv/. July 7, 2013. June 24, 2019. Edge.
  9. Web site: Steven "Destiny" Bonnell joins Quantic Gaming. live. https://archive.today/20200628200833/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/157679/Steven_ldquoDestinyrdquo_Bonnell_joins_Quantic%0AGaming.php. June 28, 2020. 2020-04-16. www.gamasutra.com. en.
  10. Web site: Popular YouTuber JonTron Has Some Batshit Crazy Thoughts on Immigration He'd Like to Share [Update]]. 2020-12-26. Gizmodo. March 13, 2017. en-us. March 13, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170313222238/https://gizmodo.com/popular-youtuber-jontron-has-some-batshit-crazy-thought-1793231221. live.
  11. Gajanan. Mahita. March 14, 2017. YouTube Star JonTron Under Fire for Comments on Race and Immigration. live. https://archive.today/20190903131306/https://time.com/4701304/jontron-jon-jafari-steve-bonnell-immigration-race-youtube/. September 3, 2019. 2020-04-19. Time. en.
  12. News: Jackson . Gita . Longtime Fans Of YouTuber JonTron Say They Can't Watch Him Anymore . September 11, 2022 . Kotaku . March 17, 2017 . en-us . October 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221003072353/https://kotaku.com/longtime-fans-of-youtuber-jontron-say-they-cant-watch-h-1793382911 . live .
  13. Web site: 2017-03-21. A Brief Breakdown of the JonTron Racism Controversy. 2020-12-26. Game Rant. en-US. August 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170829113149/https://gamerant.com/jontron-racism-controversy-breakdown/. live.
  14. Web site: Viana. Bhernardo. 2019-10-24. Trihex and Destiny end their podcast over use of the n-word. 2021-01-07. Dot Esports. en-US. April 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417211818/https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/trihex-and-destiny-end-their-podcast-over-use-of-the-n-word. live.
  15. News: Gault . Matthew . Twitch Streamer Destiny and an Economist Debate Capitalism, Achieve Nothing . September 13, 2022 . Vice . April 23, 2021 . en . August 14, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220814020350/https://www.vice.com/en/article/jg8x77/twitch-streamer-destiny-and-an-economist-debate-capitalism-achieve-nothing . live .
  16. Web site: Polhamus . Blaine . 2022-03-23 . Political streamer Destiny banned from Twitch . 2022-03-27 . Dot Esports . en-US . March 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220324193810/https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/political-streamer-destiny-banned-from-twitch . live .
  17. News: Litchfield . Ted . 2022-03-27 . Politics streamer Destiny receives indefinite ban from Twitch . en . PC Gamer . 2022-03-28 . March 28, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220328014545/https://www.pcgamer.com/politics-streamer-destiny-receives-indefinite-ban-from-twitch/ . live .
  18. News: Gach . Ethan . Trans Streamer Keffals Says Twitch Banned Her For 'Openly Talking' About Abuse She Receives . September 11, 2022 . Kotaku . July 21, 2022 . en-us . July 21, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220721180449/https://kotaku.com/twitch-ban-keffals-destiny-trans-hate-speech-slur-1849315462 . live .
  19. Web site: Gutelle . Sam . September 29, 2023 . U.S. rep Ro Khanna streamed with creators like Vaush and Emma Vigeland outside the White House . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003183728/https://khanna.house.gov/media/in-the-news/us-rep-ro-khanna-streamed-creators-vaush-and-emma-vigeland-outside-white-house . 3 October 2023 . 3 October 2023 . Congressman Ro Khanna . English.
  20. News: Lorenz . Taylor . September 28, 2023 . Democrats plan four-hour live stream with Twitch and YouTube stars . English . The Washington Post . 3 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929155206/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/09/28/live-stream-twitch-politics-khanna/ . September 29, 2023.
  21. Web site: Interviewing Congressman Ro Khanna w/ Emma Vigeland . 3 October 2023 . Youtube. October 2, 2023 .
  22. Israel-Palestine Debate: Finkelstein, Destiny, M. Rabbani & Benny Morris . . 14 March 2024 . 17 March 2024 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240315132522/https://lexfridman.com/israel-palestine-debate-transcript . 15 March 2024 . en.
  23. Web site: Ben Shapiro vs Destiny Debate: Politics, Jan 6, Israel, Ukraine & Wokeism Lex Fridman Podcast #410 . YouTube . January 23, 2024 . August 1, 2024 .
  24. Web site: 2020-09-12. Twitch Legal Department Unpartners Destiny After 'Encouragement of Violence'. 2020-12-26. Game Rant. en-US. September 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200913125503/https://gamerant.com/twitch-destiny-streamer-partner/. live.
  25. Web site: Richman. Olivia. Destiny loses Twitch partnership for "encouraging violence" - LoL - News. 2020-12-26. WIN.gg. September 12, 2020. en. September 20, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920135801/https://win.gg/news/5496/destiny-loses-twitch-partnership-for-encouraging-violence. live.
  26. Web site: Bowling . Chris . 2021-03-05 . After Cutting Ties with Controversial Streamer, Gudgel Staying in Mayoral Race . 2024-07-25 . The Reader . en-US.
  27. Web site: Bonell . Steven . Kyle Rittenhouse ("mowing down protestors") . My Position . September 15, 2021 . March 8, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210308093713/https://positions.destiny.gg/docs/current_events#kyle-rittenhouse-mowing-down-protestors . live .
  28. News: 15 July 2024 . The attack on Donald Trump unleashes a flood of misinformation . The Economist.
  29. Lieberman-Fleshaks . Noa . November 22, 2023 . he:'רוב האנשים לא טורחים לקרוא או לחשוב לעומק': ישראל מגלה תומכים מפתיעים ברשת . 'Most people don't bother to read or think deeply': Israel discovers surprising supporters online . . he . https://web.archive.org/web/20240202170027/https://www.themarker.com/captain-internet/2023-11-22/ty-article/0000018b-f816-d330-a9bb-ffd62d4a0000 . 2024-02-02 . November 23, 2023.
  30. YouTube . Sargon of Akkad Live . Talking Immigration and Economics with Destiny . July 31, 2024 .
  31. Web site: Voting For / Against Biden - Debate w/ Kim Iversen . www.youtube.com . August 9, 2020 . 18 January 2021 . August 10, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200810112550/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6fjOr9Kooc . live .
  32. Web site: Gray . Sakura . MATH MVMT hosts canvassing event ahead of Georgia Senate runoffs . WRBL . 10 February 2021 . 21 December 2020 . December 21, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201221160939/https://www.wrbl.com/news/georgia-news/math-mvmt-hosts-canvassing-event-ahead-of-senate-run-offs/ . live .
  33. Web site: Citarella. Joshua. 2021-04-24. Are we ready for social media influencers shaping politics?. 2022-02-20. The Guardian. en. April 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424111922/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/24/social-media-influencers-shaping-politics. live.
  34. Web site: Johnson . Anton . How one creator is using streaming service Twitch to shape an Omaha mayoral candidate's 'Destiny' . The Gateway . 18 February 2021 . 17 February 2021 . February 17, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210217230621/https://unothegateway.com/the-gateway-unpacks-how-one-creator-is-using-streaming-service-twitch-to-shape-an-omaha-mayoral-candidates-destiny/ . live .
  35. Web site: Ristau . Reece . Omaha mayoral candidate cuts ties with internet personality over protest comments . . 14 March 2021 . 13 March 2021 . March 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210316031811/https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/omaha-mayoral-candidate-cuts-ties-with-internet-personality-over-protest-comments/article_d089b9a2-7c44-11eb-b83a-23e235d679a3.html . live .
  36. News: Burd . Aaron . 9 February 2024 . Why a high-profile YouTuber and stream team is coming to Ohio . 12 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240210023152/https://www.nbc4i.com/news/your-local-election-hq/why-a-high-profile-youtuber-and-stream-team-is-coming-to-ohio/ . 10 February 2024.
  37. Web site: BLM Organizer Confronts Destiny On Jacob Blake And Defund The Police... - YouTube. December 20, 2021 . 2022-01-19. YouTube. December 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211220221547/https://youtube.com/watch?v=lt9dN5sNG8E&t=59. live.
  38. DC INTERVIEW W/ EMMA VIGELAND, RYAN GRIM & DESTINY . September 29, 2023 . Video . Vaush . Roughly 55 . September 29, 2023 . Kochinski, Ian. September 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929162639/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lesq1Z84ukI&list=TLPQMjkwOTIwMjMcCTJ9N573rA&index=16 . live .
  39. Web site: Open Relationships, Intense Officer Confrontation & Dealing w/ the Police - LNOD . www.youtube.com . July 29, 2019 . 25 January 2021 . January 2, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200102203028/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jDrXd78vUs . live .
  40. Web site: Personal . destiny.gg . 2021-05-31 . Melina and I are currently in an open/poly relationship. We treat each other as primary partners, though we may pursue other sexual/romantic relationships as well. . March 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210302224802/https://positions.destiny.gg/docs/personal . live .
  41. Web site: Göransson. Melina. I am married!. live. 2022-01-01. Twitter. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20211227214741/https://twitter.com/melinagoranson/status/1475584122777128963 . December 27, 2021 .

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