The GASLIGHTING emote is used ironically in Twitch chat to humorously accuse someone (usually the streamer) of gaslighting viewers, or to playfully call out when someone is trying to manipulate a narrative or deny something obvious. It's often used in a tongue-in-cheek manner rather than seriously, as part of the playful banter between streamers and their communities. The emote can be deployed when a streamer denies doing something they clearly did, changes their story, or tries to convince chat that something didn't happen the way viewers remember it. It's become a staple for light-hearted accusations and meta-commentary on stream interactions.
Origin
The GASLIGHTING emote originates from Twitch streamer Emiru (Emily Schunk), a popular variety streamer and content creator. The emote features her face with a knowing, slightly mischievous expression while wearing a black shirt. This emote was created and became popular around 2021-2022 during the height of discussions about gaslighting in online spaces. It was uploaded to her channel and various emote platforms like 7TV and FrankerFaceZ, where it gained traction among her community and spread to other channels. The emote perfectly captures the ironic meta-humor of calling out gaslighting while simultaneously joking about the concept itself.
When to use
When a streamer denies making a mistake or misplay that chat clearly saw
When someone tries to rewrite what just happened moments ago on stream
During playful arguments between streamer and chat about game decisions
When a streamer claims they 'never said that' despite chat remembering otherwise
In response to streamers jokingly manipulating chat or changing narratives
As a humorous accusation during friendly banter in chat
When discussing meta-humor about manipulation or denial in gaming or streaming contexts
