Video game streamer and YouTuber Rachel Hofstetter — better known by her online persona Valkyrae — is publicly apologizing after a comment she made about "wishing she was gay" received some backlash from viewers.
During a recent six-and-a-half-hour-long live stream that took place on her YouTube channel last Friday, the 29-year-old content creator (who is one of the platform's most viewed streamers) can be seen reacting to a video of a female fan who is reacting to recent pictures Hofstetter posted of herself on Twitter. (~ the 43:00 mark)
"Must look respectfully," the fan can be heard saying while looking at a picture of Hofstetter wearing an all-leather outfit.
"I love my girlfriends, I love them!" Hofstetter replies, referring to the fan. "They're so funny!"
She continued:
"I love girls! I am SHOCKED I'm straight. I am actually shocked I'm not even bi. I'm shocked! Why? I can't believe it. I can't believe it, with how much I love women. I actually can't believe it. I should be at least bisexual, but I'm not. That sucks for me."
After some people pointed out that her comments can seen as trivializing queerness, Hofstetter took to her Twitter account to issue an apology.
\u201c"I wish I was gay.. I love women so much"\n\nAs I was reading the VOD comments, some mentioned while they understand I didn't mean any harm, it comes off as invalidating lgbtq+ struggles as being straight is a privilege. I understand & you're absolutely right. I'll do better! <3\u201d— RAE (@RAE) 1616343414
"As I was reading the VOD comments, some mentioned while they understand I didn't mean any harm, it comes off as invalidating LGBTQ+ struggles as being straight is a privilege," she wrote. "I understand & you're absolutely right. I'll do better! <3"
Many of her fans appreciated her candidness and holding herself accountable.
\u201c@Valkyrae Thank you Rae, as someone who's queer, I personally dont see it that way. However I don't speak for the whole community, and can see how some felt invalidated (v valid). Just know that there's nothing wrong with reflecting on who you are as a person, and questioning and exploring\u201d— RAE (@RAE) 1616343414
\u201c@Valkyrae the way you are constantly acknowledging areas where you can learn more and always working to educate yourself is very admirable, I hope others take notes tbh! thank you :)\u201d— RAE (@RAE) 1616343414
\u201c@Valkyrae As someone who is gay, you meant no harm at all. Most of us know that it was mean in a light hearted positive way. Thank you for acknowledging that being straight is a privilege, that they don\u2019t know that struggles for being gay. Thank you Rae. We love you\u201d— RAE (@RAE) 1616343414
\u201c@Valkyrae honestly, the fact that you understand without having to "call u out" or whatever is HUGE. you're doing great and you're doing your best to make lgbtq+ viewers feel more comfortable watching you/following you on socials. thank you for genuinely caring; it means SO much\u201d— RAE (@RAE) 1616343414
\u201c@Valkyrae thank you! it\u2019s a very sweet sentiment but it plays into the idea straight women have that liking women would be \u201ceasier\u201d as if we don\u2019t have our own struggles being queer women. but you meant no harm rae, don\u2019t worry about it!\ud83e\udd7a\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— RAE (@RAE) 1616343414
