“PR campaign for himself”: Tectone calls out HasanAbi after controversial comment on Charlie Kirk’s death

Twitch streamer John "Tectone" stirred up a highly debated debate after publicly lambasting fellow streamer and political commentator Hasan "HasanAbi" Piker for his reaction to the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The controversy commenced after Hasan published a guest essay, reflecting on what questions he would have asked Kirk in their debate.

Tectone accuses HasanAbi of profiting on Kirk’s death

On September 13, 2025, Tectone went on X to vent his disdain for Hasan's essay, dismissing it as a mere PR stunt:"Hasan using the death of Charlie Kirk as a PR campaign for himself. Is the most on-brand stunt I’ve ever seen him try to pull. Hasan, anyone who’s not r***d hates your anti-American terrorist loving a.

Shut the f*k up.”The incendiary remarks went viral in no time and sparked further discussions along already polarized lines between the supporters of both creators.

The Cancelled Debate That Sparked the Essay

Before Kirk got murdered on September 10, HasanAbi was going to debate him on the 25th of the same month at Dartmouth. Organized under the auspices of Dartmouth Political Union, the event would have put a glaring spotlight on their far divergent ideological perspectives: those of the progressive streamer and the founder of Turning Point USA.

HasanAbi’s Reaction During Livestream

The news of Kirk’s death came to Hasan live on a stream on September 10. According to the circulating clips online, he seemed caught off guard as his viewers notified him about the shooting. He quickly condemned the violence, requesting them not to joke about the tragedy.

The reflections on what could have been asked in the debate followed in an essay he wrote for The New York Times, yet critics, including Tectone, viewed the piece as self-promotion in a time of national mourning.The conflict between Tectone and HasanAbi underlines the increasing strain in online political spheres, where creators tend to blur the line between commentary and self-branding.