Streamer Zoe Matthea says a man has been stalking her for around two years. He recently appeared again.
Twitch streamer Zoe Matthea experienced a frightening encounter during Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, after spotting an individual she identified as her long-term stalker. Matthea stated that the man has harassed and pursued her for roughly two years across multiple accounts, persisting despite repeated attempts to block him and previous reports filed with law enforcement.
Encounter Captured Live on Stream
The incident unfolded during an IRL broadcast outside Gamescom when Matthea noticed the man in her immediate surroundings and quickly relocated to get away from him. She subsequently titled the recorded clip "Dokumentation stalking," noting that the individual has continuously crossed personal boundaries and tracked her public appearances.
According to Matthea, the harassment has included explicit messages professing unwanted affection alongside disturbing, threatening remarks referencing her private residence.
Matthea also shared documentation regarding a formal police inquiry into the matter. According to the document, authorities concluded that the statutory requirements for criminal stalking had not been established, citing an inability to prove that Matthea had explicitly rejected further communication. The streamer strongly contested that assessment, publishing message screenshots as proof that she clearly and repeatedly ordered the individual to cease contact.
Creator Safety and Industry Discourse
The incident has reignited ongoing discussions across the streaming community regarding creator safety and the normalization of harassment targeting online personalities. While some social media discourse dismissively suggested unwanted proximity is a byproduct of public content creation, fellow creators and viewers rallied to support Matthea, emphasizing that broadcasting in public does not forfeit an individual's right to safety and personal boundaries.
Advocates emphasize that persistent stalking poses severe psychological and physical safety risks, regardless of a creator's public profile.
If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, harassment, or abuse, confidential help is available:
In the United States, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting "START" to 88788. In Germany, the Violence Against Women Support Hotline (Hilfetelefon) provides free, confidential assistance in multiple languages at 116 016.
