Darren Jason Watkins Jr., known on the internet as IShowSpeed, has recently won the Streamer of the Year award at the 2024 Streamer Awards on December 7. Held in the city of Los Angeles and boosted by QTCinderella, this event celebrated the best individuals in online entertainment. Speed also took home two additional awards: Best International Streamer and the Get Off Your A** Award, which recognized his pioneering contributions to IRL (In-Real-Life).
Known for his funny personality and uncontrollable attitude, IShowSpeed has millions of fans around the world, especially on social media, with over 350,000 followers on Twitch, 33 million subscribers on YouTube, and 27 million followers on Instagram. However, Speed wasn’t always the internet celebrity he’s known as today. Starting a YouTube account in 2016, Speed didn’t find much success on social media until 2022, when he began gaining traction after creating soccer-related content. That year, he won the Breakout Streamer of the Year award at the 12th Streamy Awards. Since then, Speed has been continuing to build his online popularity, even participating in in large fundraisers, including fighting against KSI in a charity match in December 2023 and participating in the 2023 Sidemen Charity Match.
Expanding His Global Reach:
In the summer of 2024, in the midst of the UEFA Euro 2024 soccer tournament, Speed toured Europe, visiting over 10 countries and amassing 3.3 billion views on YouTube. In September, Speed also toured Southeast Asia and received the same positive welcome. Speed’s widespread tours such as these not only showcased his adventurous spirit but also allowed fans from different countries and cultures to connect with him. Whether exploring local traditions, engaging in spontaneous challenges with strangers, or streaming his reactions to unfamiliar environments, Speed turned his trips into highly engaging content, as his travels added a new dimension to his IRL streams, bringing his audience all around the world with him and spreading his trademark energy and humor.
A Memorable Acceptance Speech and Celebration
As a result of all the adventures and content that Speed has produced this year, winning Streamer of the Year may just be the icing on the cake for him. Upon receiving the award, he immediately thanked the people that have made him achieve his success: his content team, his family, and his fans. He also expressed how deeply the award mattered to him as well as acknowledging the positive impact that streaming has had on his life. He ended off his speech by performing a backflip in front of a cheering crowd.
Looking Ahead at Speed’s Potential Future Success
After the success from this year, IShowSpeed acknowledges how he’s going to continue streaming and doing what he loves. His passion and energy have made him an internet icon that few can replicate. For the streaming world, Speed’s success serves as an inspiration. His journey shows that streaming isn’t just about gaming; it’s about creating unforgettable moments and connecting with people worldwide. As 2025 approaches, IShowSpeed’s creativity and drive will undoubtedly continue to shape and revolutionize the streaming world.
