Twitch personality “Sweet Anita” boasts a dedicated fanbase thanks to her witty humor, easygoing personality, and acute Tourette Syndrome – but one of her fans is taking their enthusiasm too far.
While many internet stars receive their fair share of online harassment, Anita revealed that she’s been dealing with a stalker in the real world, as told in a Tweet on November 7.
According to Anita, her stalker had “spent hours” outside of her home, slept behind her property, and had even assaulted her, allegedly harassing her for over a month before being detained by local law enforcement.
The police have caught and detained my stalker, so I'm having to cancel tonight's stream. I'll be in the station all night giving a statement and evidence, but hopefully I'll finally be safe and able to stream by sunday at 8PM GMT
— Sweet Anita (@Tweet4nita) November 7, 2019
Sadly I have had a fair amount of online stalkers. But this one was IRL, he spent hours outside my house, he even slept behind my house, and managed to assault me. I've been harassed for a month now and I'm relieved that something might be done about it.
— Sweet Anita (@Tweet4nita) November 7, 2019
However, it doesn’t look like the offender will remain in police custody, nor even receive a proper punishment, as the streamer told in a series of outraged Tweets the very next day.
Despite his abhorrent behavior, Anita claimed that her stalker was released with naught but a “caution” – a disturbing development, considering that he’s reportedly moved within a four-minute distance of her home.
“The stalker was caught and detained last night,” Anita wrote. “He had a knife on him. After taking my screenshots, recordings, a witness statement of the assault from me and a friend, AND having his confession to harassing me, he’s been released with a caution.”
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The streaming star went on to express exasperation with the police’s response to the matter, writing, “I’m very used to the lack of protection from the police at this point. I guess I’ll have to get used to seeing him around, too.”
He has also gone from planning a short visit my town, to moving to a place 4 minutes from me permanently. I'm very used to the lack of protection from the police at this point, I guess I'll have to get used to seeing him around too.
— Sweet Anita (@Tweet4nita) November 8, 2019
Needless to say, Anita’s fanbase is wracked with worry over the ordeal, urging the broadcaster to make a bigger stink out of the matter for her own safety.
“You actually need to blow this up, out of proportion, make it huge,” one fan replied. “…if someone is honestly stalking you and showing signs of being harmful, you’re in danger, too. Many [times] these things are left alone, and someone gets hurt.”
You actually need to blow this up, out of proportion, make it huge, go to everyone, every media you can think of, if someone is honestly stalking you and showing signs of being harmful you’re in danger, too many these things are left alone, and someone gets hurt. Stay safe :purple_heart:
— eire:four_leaf_clover: (@eireBTW) November 8, 2019
“It’s so bizarre how little concern there is for circumstances such as this,” another Tweeted. “…At the very least, you should seek a restraining order.”
It's so bizarre how little concern there is for circumstances such as this. To be fair it's hard to concretely establish a crime, but we have to figure out something we can do.
At the very least you should seek a restraining order.
— Kind of Annoying Guy (@Cataphract) November 8, 2019
Anita has yet to speak further about the incident at the time of writing this article, but fans are hopeful that the situation will be properly resolved sooner rather than later.