History of IShowSpeed in Timeline
Darren Jason Watkins Jr., better known as IShowSpeed or Speed, is an American YouTuber and online streamer. He is recognized for his dramatic and energetic personality, prominently displayed during his diverse live streams. He also gains notoriety from his "In Real Life" (IRL) streams, often broadcasting from various locations around the world.
January 21, 2005: Darren Watkins Jr. is Born
On January 21, 2005, Darren Jason Watkins Jr., who is known online as IShowSpeed, was born. He would later become an American YouTuber and online streamer.
2016: YouTube Account Creation
In 2016, IShowSpeed created his YouTube account and occasionally uploaded gameplay videos.
2016: Channel Registration
In 2016, Watkins registered his YouTube channel, where he began posting gaming content.
December 2017: Beginning Livestreaming
Around December 2017, IShowSpeed began livestreaming and uploading videos of games such as NBA 2K and occasionally Fortnite, averaging two viewers.
April 2021: YouTube Channel Reaches 100,000 Subscribers
In April 2021, IShowSpeed's YouTube channel reached 100,000 subscribers.
August 2021: Release of "Dooty Booty"
In August 2021, IShowSpeed released his first single, "Dooty Booty", on his YouTube channel, which quickly became popular on social media.
December 2021: Twitch Ban
In December 2021, IShowSpeed participated in a Twitch "e-dating" livestream show hosted by Adin Ross. His exchange with another participant, Ash Kash, escalated to what was widely interpreted as a rape threat, resulting in a ban from Twitch for "sexual coercion or intimidation."
2021: Gaining Online Attention
In 2021, IShowSpeed started gaining online attention because of his ill-mannered personality and statements.
April 2022: Valorant Ban
In April 2022, IShowSpeed was banned from Valorant and all other Riot Games titles after a clip surfaced of him telling a female player to "Get off the fucking game and do your husband's dishes."
June 2022: "Ronaldo (Sewey)" Release
In June 2022, IShowSpeed released a song called "Ronaldo (Sewey)", after his newfound admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo.
July 4, 2022: Pikachu Firework Incident
On July 4, 2022, during American Independence Day, IShowSpeed set off a Pikachu firework inside his bedroom, almost burning it down, which attracted media attention.
July 2022: YouTube Ban after Minecraft Mod Stream
In July 2022, IShowSpeed received a community guidelines strike and a one-week ban on YouTube after livestreaming his character being fellated in a sexual Minecraft mod named "Jenny's Mod".
August 2022: Swatted During Livestream
In August 2022, IShowSpeed was swatted while livestreaming on YouTube. Officers handcuffed him, and his cameraman was forced to end the stream. He claimed he was bailed out by Adin Ross.
September 2022: Sidemen Charity Match Controversy
In September 2022, during the Sidemen Charity Match, IShowSpeed became frustrated at the referee for disallowing his goal and whipped him with his shirt, resulting in a yellow card.
November 2022: "World Cup" Single Release
In November 2022, IShowSpeed released a single titled "World Cup" under Warner Records in honor of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
November 2022: Sky Sports Stops Featuring IShowSpeed
In November 2022, Sky Sports announced they would stop featuring IShowSpeed on their platform due to past misogynistic comments. They also removed all content featuring him.
2022: Shift to Soccer Content
In 2022, IShowSpeed began shifting his focus towards soccer-related content, becoming an avid supporter of Cristiano Ronaldo and basing his content around this.
2022: Release of "World Cup" and Streamy Award
In 2022, IShowSpeed signed with Warner Records to release his single "World Cup" which charted in several countries. He was also named Breakout Streamer of the Year at the 12th Streamy Awards.
May 2023: Rumble Streaming Deal
In May 2023, IShowSpeed announced that he signed an exclusive streaming deal with Rumble, in collaboration with Kai Cenat.
July 7, 2023: Rolling Loud Festival Performance
On July 7, 2023, IShowSpeed was a surprise guest at the 2023 Rolling Loud festival in Portugal and performed "Shake", "World Cup" and "Portuginies" with Ski Mask the Slump God and DJ Scheme.
August 2023: Accidental Exposure Incident
In August 2023, IShowSpeed accidentally flashed his penis to a live viewership of 25,000 people while playing Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach. The incident led to the term "IShowMeat" trending online.
October 2023: Twitch Account Unbanned
In October 2023, IShowSpeed's Twitch account was unbanned after previously being banned in December 2021.
December 2023: Charity Boxing Match
In December 2023, IShowSpeed fought KSI in a charity boxing sparring match after a year-long rivalry, raising money for the Anthony Walker Foundation.
February 23, 2024: Participated in "Match for Hope 2024"
On February 23, 2024, IShowSpeed participated in "Match for Hope 2024", a soccer charity match in Qatar, where a clip of him slide tackling Kaká went viral.
March 2024: Release of Trip 2 Brazil EP
In March 2024, IShowSpeed released his first extended play Trip 2 Brazil.
April 7, 2024: WrestleMania XL Appearance
On April 7, 2024, IShowSpeed appeared on Night 2 of WWE's WrestleMania XL, dressed as a bottle of Prime. He was kicked by Randy Orton and RKOed onto the commentators' table.
May 29, 2024: Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling Injury
On May 29, 2024, IShowSpeed attended the annual Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake in Gloucestershire, England, during which he suffered a leg injury, requiring hospitalization.
July 2024: Injured During European Tour
In July 2024, during the UEFA Euro 2024, IShowSpeed toured Europe, reaching 25 million subscribers in June. On July 3, he visited Norway and injured his ankle. He was then attacked by a crowd and hospitalized.
August 3, 2024: Car Jumping Stunt
On August 3, 2024, IShowSpeed performed a live-streamed stunt where he jumped over two speeding luxury cars in Miami.
September 2024: Southeast Asia Tour
In September 2024, IShowSpeed toured Southeast Asia, visiting seven countries. He surpassed 30 million subscribers and accumulated 110 million views. His "IRL Stream in Indonesia" marked the first time an English-speaking streamer received 1 million viewers in a livestream.
November 2024: Race Against Noah Lyles and Australia/New Zealand Tour
In November 2024, IShowSpeed lost an exhibition 50 meter race against Noah Lyles. He also began his tour of Australia and New Zealand and was ranked first by Complex Networks in its list of "The 25 Best Streamers Right Now".
December 2024: Streamer Awards Wins and GOAL Champions Award
In December 2024, IShowSpeed won multiple awards at the 2024 Streamer Awards including "Get Off Your A** Award (Best IRL Streamer)", "Best International Streamer", and "Streamer of the Year". He also won the "Most Influential Soccer Creator" award of the GOAL Champions Awards.
2024: Streamer of the Year Award
In 2024, IShowSpeed was awarded Streamer of the Year at the 2024 Streamer Awards.
January 10, 2025: South America Tour Announcement
On January 10, 2025, IShowSpeed announced that he would be doing a tour in South America.
February 1, 2025: WWE Royal Rumble Appearance
On February 1, 2025, IShowSpeed appeared in WWE’s Royal Rumble, substituting for Akira Tozawa. He eliminated Otis but was then speared by Bron Breakker and eliminated.
February 14, 2025: "Match for Hope 2025" Participation
On February 14, 2025, IShowSpeed participated in "Match for Hope 2025" as a co-captain, raising over $10.7 million for charity.
