Darren Jason Watkins Jr. (born January 21, 2005), known online as IShowSpeed or simply Speed, is an American internet personality and online streamer. He is best known for his dramatic behavior in his variety livestreams, in which he primarily streams around the world, and plays video games. In 2022, IShowSpeed began to shift towards soccer-related content while also becoming an avid supporter of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, commonly revolving his content with support towards him


Watkins registered his YouTube channel "IShowSpeed" in 2016, where he began posting gaming content. He started gaining online attention in 2021 due to his aberrant behavior and comments. One incident resulted in him being banned from Twitch and the game Valorant. After being banned from Twitch, he solely streams on YouTube. Two years later, he shifted towards football-related content, leading to appearances at the Sidemen Charity Football Match and meeting sports athletes. In 2022, he was named Breakout Streamer of the Year at the 12th Streamy Awards



In December 2021, Watkins took part in a Twitch "e-dating" livestream show hosted by Adin Ross. The exchange between Watkins and another participant, Ash Kash, escalated to what was widely interpreted as a rape threat. Watkins was the first contestant to be eliminated, and shortly after the game had ended, he quickly rejoined the Discord call. He started sexually harassing Kash, slurring her repeatedly. Watkins was then kicked out of the call, with Ross apologizing to Kash for his behavior. Watkins was later banned from Twitch.[12][15] According to a Twitter post by him, Watkins was banned for "sexual coercion or intimidation."[16][17]


Speed in November 2021

In April 2022, a clip of Watkins playing Valorant on a live stream surfaced. In the clip, he tells a female player to, "Get off the fucking game and do your husband's dishes."[13] This resulted in one of the game's producers, Sara Dadafshar, permanently banning Watkins from Valorant and all other Riot Games titles.[18][19] YouTube global head of gaming creators, Lester Chen, replied to the clip, saying he was "on it."[12] Watkins soon apologized for his behavior, acknowledged that it was "wrong", and claimed that he was receiving racist comments from other players that day.[20]

On American Independence Day, July 4, 2022, Watkins set off a Pikachu firework inside his bedroom, almost burning it down, which attracted media attention.[21][22] He also hit 10 million subscribers on YouTube in July 2022.[7] Later that month, Watkins received a community guidelines strike as well as a one-week ban on YouTube after livestreaming his character being fellated in a sexual Minecraft mod named "Jenny's Mod" to 96,000 live viewers as well the options "Blowjob", "Sex", and "Strip" displayed on screen. He selected the "Blowjob" option. Initially, he censored the screen as it was happening, but he kept changing it from censored to uncensored. Eventually, he left the screen uncensored, and his character was seen expressing sexual activity. Watkins later confirmed the strike and claimed he wouldn't return to YouTube,[23][24] but he returned soon after his ban ended.