Who is iShowSpeed?
ISHOWSPEED – Discover everything about American content creator and live streamer iShowSpeed right here.
During his visit to the Philippines in September 2024, American content creator and live streamer IShowSpeed was surrounded by adoring fans. He started his live broadcast while playing basketball with fans in Tondo, Manila.
After visiting Tondo, IShowSpeed traveled to Bonifacio Global City, where he was surrounded by crowds of supporters, cutting off his feed. He went to General Santos City, Mindanao, the next day to see boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
But who exactly is IShowSpeed?
Born Darren Watkins Jr., IShowSpeed is a well-known video creator with more than 69 million followers and subscribers on social media sites like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. He just celebrated on YouTube achieving 25 million subscribers, but things didn’t go according to plan.
His happiness was cut short when he encountered technical issues while streaming the Champions League final from what looked to be London due to a low battery and possibly a bad internet connection. The milestone moment was captured in a glitch-filled video that was uploaded on social media during the occurrence.
Apart from Instagram, IShowSpeed interacts with more than two million followers on X, which was once Twitter. He posts live videos of games, live broadcasts of sporting events like football cup finals, and conversations with his fans on YouTube. He subsequently posts these feeds as videos to his accounts on YouTube and other social media platforms. Additionally, he produces short-form material especially for Instagram and TikTok.
Regardless of what Speed is doing, his videos always provoke conversation since they are either funny, controversial, or a mix of the two. Heated arguments with rival Manchester United supporters, being sent to the hospital following his first-ever cheese-rolling event, and being submitted by WWE superstar Randy Orton at WrestleMania are just a few of the memorable experiences.
Speed, who is 19 years old, was born on January 21, 2005, in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of eleven, he began posting gaming videos to YouTube in 2016 using games like NBA 2K and Fortnite. In 2021, he attracted one million followers in a matter of days, which greatly increased his popularity.
Speed gained notoriety for his intense reactions during gameplay, often losing his temper at games, other players, and even his own camera—moments that frequently became viral memes. However, these outbursts have occasionally caused issues. He was banned from both Twitch and the game Valorant due to inappropriate comments. Despite these controversies, Speed shifted his focus toward football-related content in 2022, which only boosted his popularity. That year, he participated in a charity match with the Sidemen and earned the Streamy Award for ‘Breakout Streamer.’
Interestingly, despite his vast following, Speed didn’t start earning significant revenue from YouTube until 2022. Beyond streaming, he has appeared in WWE events and pursued music, releasing 10 tracks across four singles and EPs over a four-year period. His 2022 track “World Cup” became a breakout success, topping the charts in the Netherlands and ranking sixth in Sweden, 37th in Ireland, and 52nd in the UK—his only charting single to date.