Hasan Dogan Piker is an American streamer best known for his gaming live streams and political commentary under the moniker, HasanAbi. He was born on July 25, 1991, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, but spent the majority of his early years in Istanbul, Turkey. Piker admitted that he felt like an outcast growing up due to his physical appearance and his vocal criticisms against religion. After finishing high school, he moved back to the United States and attended the University of Miami where he graduated cum laude.
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Before his career as a streamer, Piker first interned and then worked for The Younger Turks. The network was co-founded by his uncle, Cenk Uygur, and Piker’s formal background in political science and communication studies ensured that he was a perfect fit. Three years after his internship, Piker created and hosted “The Breakdown”, a progressive web series which later won an award during the 2018 Shorty Awards. From 2016 to 2018, Piker proved his skills as a writer and wrote several political pieces for the HuffPost.
In 2018, Piker left TYT in favor of a streaming career on Twitch, citing that he wanted to connect with younger audiences and encourage more leftist representation in streaming. He also started a YouTube channel where he would publish stream highlights of his video gameplays and political commentary. Piker immediately became popular and gained over a million subscribers in just three years since his debut. During the 2020 Presidential elections, Piker was among the most streamed and viewed content creators on YouTube and Twitch.
With his entertaining personality and outspoken views, Piker is a definite magnet for criticism and controversy. It’s no surprise that the streamer has found himself in hot waters several times due to his left-leaning views. Whether it’s for his socialist outlook or his sexuality, Piker has no escape from curious fans. So, is Hasan Piker gay? Read on below to find out.
VOTE: What is Hasan Piker’s Sexuality?
Hasan Piker’s Take on Relationships
Despite being in the public eye, Piker keeps a tight rein on his relationships. He was last publicly linked to adult film star Janice Griffith in 2018. The couple were pictured together at an event but no other details of their relationship resurfaced. Not too long after his split with Griffith, Piker was rumored to be dating Imane Anys, also known to fans as Pokimane. However, there wasn’t enough evidence to prove that they were actually going out.
While there has been no confirmation from Piker’s camp, the streamer is believed to be dating fellow YouTuber, Rachell Hofstetter, better known as Valkyrae on social media. Valkyrae is yet to comment on the rumors but she did share that she recently deleted her dating apps. Although the pair has been spotted in each other’s photos, they haven’t released an official statement. Meanwhile, fans continue to fuel the fire with conspiracy videos on TikTok.
In an article published by Dexerto in 2022, Piker revealed the reason why streamers can never be open about their dating lives. According to the YouTube sensation, it was almost impossible dating in the public eye due to the backlash from “psychotic fans.” Piker also added that even dating another streamer didn’t help the situation.
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Hasan Piker’s Controversial Views
Since Piker got his start in political commentary, it’s only natural to see his name in the headlines every now and then for his controversial views. It’s no secret that the streamer is a progressive, leftist, and democratic socialist. However, it’s important to note that Piker is openly critical of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Throughout the years, he has voiced his displeasure against war, white supremacy, and capitalism among others. On the other hand, Piker is a strong ally for feminism and LGBTQ rights.
In 2019, Piker was banned from Twitch for a week because of several comments he made during a live stream. In the video, the streamer criticized U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw for the country’s overseas interference. He also stated that “America deserved 9/11, dude.” Piker’s comments immediately received outrage, prompting him to defend his statements. According to him, he was being satirical but acknowledged that he should have been more precise in his words.
Two years after the 9/11 comments, Piker was criticized once again for his million-dollar home in West Hollywood, California. The purchase was apparently in contrast with his strong socialist views. More criticism surfaced after it was reported that Piker bought a sportscar and his stream earnings were leaked online. Regarding the latter, he defended himself by saying that his earnings have always been transparent.
In 2021, Piker was banned again from Twitch after using the word “cracker” repeatedly on his live streams. However, he justified his use of the term and insisted that it wasn’t a racial slur compared to the n-word. Despite his protests, Piker wasn’t allowed on the platform for an entire week.
Is Hasan Piker Gay?
No, Hasan Piker is not gay. He was last reported to be dating adult star Janice Griffith in 2018. Since then, he has been linked only to female streamers including Pokimane and Valkyrae. Although he has never commented on his sexuality, Piker is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights. But when looking at his dating history, it’s safe to assume that he is straight.