Shelbo and Pokimane catfish controversy, drama explained
Shelby “Shelbo” Jacobs from OTK Top Streamer has gone viral after a catfish scam convinced him that he was engaged to popular content creator Imane “Pokimane” Anys.
The streaming world is no stranger to controversy. From lighthearted feuds between friends to serious allegations against top names, the drama comes with the territory for streamers. As streamers share more about their lives online, some viewers become attached to them in increasingly parasocial ways.
Earlier in 2024, OTK held the “OTK Top Streamer” event, a reality show styled competition on Twitch in which smaller creators competed for a spot with OTK. Shelbo, a participant in the OTK Top Streamer event, initially grew a following thanks to his odd behavior. As the competition escalated, he was eliminated and faded back into relative obscurity.
That all changed after he live-streamed a concerning rant on his Twitch channel.
Shelbo claims to be engaged to Pokimane after being catfished
Streamer Shelbo apparently believes he is engaged to Pokimane after falling victim to a catfish scam. During a stream, he claims to be engaged to Pokimane and shares his frustration with her recent actions. The rant revealed many personal details about the streamer’s life, which led viewers to begin investigating his social media.
From there, the story slowly took shape. Shelbo had reportedly fallen victim to an AI deepfake of Pokimane on X. Viewers knew it was fake given the complete lack of connection to official Pokimane accounts, and the AI voice’s inability to say “Pokimane” properly.
He also revealed he had spent $5,500 on the catfish account. He then paid $400 to travel to California to meet the fake Pokimane. Shelbo remains convinced of his relationship and even posted a vlog looking for an engagement ring.
Notably, Shelbo revealed in previous videos that he was diagnosed with psychosis and schizophrenia. These mental illnesses may have made him susceptible to manipulative scams. Although many who stumble upon these posts tell Shelbo it’s a scam, he refuses to entertain the idea.
Viewers call for Shelbo to seek professional help after Pokimane catfish
Concerned viewers are pushing for Shelbo to seek professional help after his falling for a Pokimane catfish account. Users across social media initially thought it was a joke, but the history of Shelbo’s videos convinced most otherwise. On his YouTube channel, Shelbo posted a video of himself in a patient’s gown before being asked to leave by an unknown man. In an argument, he claims he’s being harassed by witches before the video abruptly cuts off.
Other videos on the channel also revealed he has been homeless in California, with sporadic and short uploads updating his viewers on his status. Although Pokimane is currently in Paris, some viewers shared concerns about her safety upon her return. Shelbo has not posted any videos stalking Pokimane, but his recent uploads showcase his increasing frustration with the streamer.
Pokmane has openly discussed her disdain for AI deepfakes and her fears for her safety. In a podcast with Colin and Samir, she talks about how she has a team dedicated to taking down false accounts and doxx attempts. She also lives alone to ensure that her address is never leaked online, whether intentionally or not.
Pokimane revealed that her security team costs her upwards of “five figures” per month.
Shelbo falling victim to a Pokimane deepfake and then traveling to California with the sole purpose of meeting her validates the top streamer’s fears. As of this writing, Pokimane has not acknowledged the Shelbo controversy, and she may not do so publicly.