Chica claims brand refused to work with her because she wasn’t “Latina, like Valkyrae”

As a gamer and avid follower of the streaming community, I find myself utterly astounded by the recent incident involving Chica and a certain brand that apparently has a skewed perception of Latina representation. Being a long-time fan of both Chica and Valkyrae, it’s hard not to be disappointed when such blatant ignorance rears its ugly head in the industry we all love.

Puerto Rican Twitch broadcaster Chica asserts that a company declined collaboration with her, preferring a candidate who was “more authentically Latin,” similar to Valkyrae – a YouTube personality of Filipino and German heritage.

As an enthusiast, I frequently collaborate with big-name brands within the streaming realm, leveraging my viewer base to spread the word about their offerings. It’s all about sharing the love!

In a surprising turn of events, it appears that retired Fortnite player Maria ‘Chica’ Lopez, who seems like a perfect fit, was reportedly overlooked because she didn’t meet the desired “Latin-ness” criteria, as stated by the Twitch streamer herself.

On November 17th, Lopez disclosed in a post that a specific company declined to collaborate with her, and she shared the reason behind their decision.

Once, a company decided against collaborating with me as they were looking for someone who was more Latina, similar to Valkyrae. I replied, “Hold on just a moment!

Funny story,
Im not gonna say which brand but..
One time, a brand passed on working with me because they wanted someone “More Latina, like Valkyrae”
I was like now wait a damn minute 💀😂
— Chica (@ChicaLive) November 17, 2024

Rachell ‘Valkyrae’ Hofstetter, a prominent YouTube streamer, is not Latina as many might think. Instead, she has roots traced back to the Philippines and Germany.

Contrarily, Chica hails from Puerto Rico. In fact, Puerto Ricans form the most significant Hispanic demographic in the U.S., following Mexican Americans.

Valkyrae herself was speechless at this claim, simply replying, “HUHHH????!!”

“Ayo culture me real quick, Latina queen,” joked Chica in response.

Ayo culture me real quick, Latina queen 💃🏽
— Chica (@ChicaLive) November 17, 2024

fellow streamer Neekolul also expressed confusion about the brand’s choice, hinting at having faced similar predicaments in her previous experiences.

Wow, that’s quite a situation! You’re not the only one experiencing this.” She added, “Brands can be quite bold at times. I, too, have a handful of amusing anecdotes to share.

Girl…that’s crazyyyyyy 🫣ur not alone…these brands have the most audacity sometimes. I also have one too many funny stories 🥲
— neekolul •ᴗ• (@neekolul) November 17, 2024

As a loyal enthusiast, I’ve found myself joining the chorus of fans imploring Chica to disclose the brand she endorses. Yet, despite our earnest pleas and the appeal to safeguard others from collaborating with this brand, Chica has steadfastly remained tight-lipped about it.

It’s unclear which specific company you’re referring to, but their decision to identify Valkrae as “Latina” sparked significant controversy, with critics claiming it was an instance of blatant racism.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that it’s not uncommon for streamers like myself to encounter troubles with brands. For instance, earlier this year, Pokimane shared an experience where a brand decided to part ways with her and requested she remove all content related to them following a “controversy.

2024-11-18 22:53

Chica claims brand refused to work with her because she wasn’t “Latina, like Valkyrae”

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