Once one of China’s top female gaming streamers, Daimei’er recently became the center of online controversy after breaking down in tears during a livestream and admitting she’s feeling completely exhausted.
But instead of sympathy, the streamer was met with a wave of harsh criticism from netizens.
During the stream, Daimei’er revealed she barely has any personal time these days.
She explained that after finishing her daily livestream, she still has to reply to fan messages, chat with her biggest supporters, and join community groups to keep engagement going. Some nights she works until 5 or 6 a.m. before finally having her first meal and going to sleep. Overwhelmed, Daimei’er admitted she sometimes feels like she can’t keep going. Her heartfelt confession quickly spread across Chinese forums and social media, racking up millions of views in a short time.
However, the online reaction was almost the opposite of what she expected. Many said they understood the pressure famous streamers face but questioned whether Daimei’er’s struggles were truly forced on her. Several comments bluntly accused her of complaining about choices she made herself. “Everyone has to work to make a living, but no one’s forcing her to stay up all night messaging fans,” one said. Another added, “If it’s too much, she can cut back on interaction or hire a support team.”
Similar opinions flooded posts about the incident. Some netizens argued that many streamers today put themselves in a constant race to keep viewers and donations, then complain about the heavy workload. They said chatting privately with wealthy fans, staying active across multiple platforms, and joining community groups until dawn aren’t platform requirements but strategies streamers choose to maintain fame and income.
Of course, some voices defended Daimei’er. They pointed out the huge pressure to stay relevant in the competitive livestream industry. As the market grows tougher, streamers have to invest more time in their communities or risk falling behind.
Still, the debate shows no sign of dying down. Daimei’er’s story has reignited the familiar discussion about the downsides of being a streamer. One side sees it as a stressful job that drains mental health. The other believes those earning huge incomes online need to accept the trade-offs instead of complaining about choices they made themselves.
