Twitch Confirms Breastfeeding Is Allowed After Controversial Content

Twitch isn't always the most transparent operation when it comes to rules and regulations, but it seems the company is offering clarity in one area of its guidelines: breastfeeding while on stream.

Kotaku is reporting that Twitch is officially allowing streamers to breastfeed, after a Twitch partner named Heather "HeatheredEffect" Kent fed her baby during a stream last week. At that time, the move was highly controversial, as some viewers felt Kent was violating Twitch's terms of service by streaming sexually explicit content. And Twitch even felt the act came close, as the company removed a clip of Kent breastfeeding; a move Twitch later apologized for.

"After further discussions between Partnerships, Safety Ops and Trust and Safety there is alignment between all teams that breastfeeding is not and will not be against the ToS," Twitch said in an email to Kent. "As you so eloquently put it 'breastfeeding is not lewd' and we agree with you."

Kent took to Twitter to praise the company's decision afterward.

"@Twitch just confirmed what we were saying all along — breastfeeding is NOT sexual & it is NOT against ToS. Moral of the story: Never back down for the things you believe in regardless of the backlash you receive. You can make a difference!"

So where do things go from here? It appears Twitch will be making changes to its terms of service, making it abundantly clear that breastfeeding is not a violation in any way. And as for Heather "HeatheredEffect" Kent, one imagines she'll continue to go about streaming as usual, and if she happens to breastfeed her child at the same time, she can rest easy knowing she's no longer in danger of being suspended or losing her Partner status on Twitch.

Will some people still be upset about it? Of course. One Kotaku commenter seems to believe Kent has paved the way for "adult breastfeeding." And people are always going to push the envelope. It'll be on Twitch now to keep the rules clear; and to enforce them consistently.