Twitch Says Goodbye To BibleThump Emote

On Sep. 25, 2024, Twitch announced that it is removing the BibleThump emote from the platform, explaining that it would no longer have the rights to use it from Sep. 30, 2024. This decision marks the end of an era for one of Twitch's most recognized emotes, which has been a staple since its introduction in 2013.

The BibleThump emote, which originates from the game "The Binding of Isaac," has been a visual shorthand for expressing sadness or disappointment in the Twitch chat. Its departure has (justifiably) sparked a significant reaction from users, who have taken to spamming the emote in its final days as a form of digital mourning.

Edmund McMillen, the creator of "The Binding of Isaac," expressed his willingness to negotiate a continuation or modification of the emote. However, the final call rests with Twitch's policies regarding emote usage rights. Despite McMillen's openness, Twitch has not indicated any plans to reverse its decision, leaving fans to speculate on what might replace this cultural icon on the platform.

As it stands, the community's response has been overwhelmingly negative, with many feeling that Twitch's decision undermines the platform's community-driven ethos. Users on X and other platforms have voiced their disappointment, with some even accusing Twitch of being "stingy" by not renewing the rights, especially given McMillen's cooperative stance.

Twitch, in its announcement, unironically acknowledged the sadness of the moment but hinted at the future, suggesting the need for a new emote to express these very feelings. This has led to discussions across social media about potential successors to BibleThump, although no official replacement has been introduced.