Twitch streamer Lily "LilyPichu" has responded to the backlash following her nomination for Best Fighting Game Streamer at The Streamer Awards 2025, saying that "gatekeeping is very unfriendly and discouraging" in the fighting game community (FGC).On November 16, 2025, the content creator took to X to address the community after she got nominated alongside Sajam, Brawlpro, and Eskay at the event hosted by Blaire "QTCinderella."While claiming that she had not asked anyone to nominate her for the award ceremony, LilyPichu stated that she accepted the nomination because "she figured people would be upset no matter what":"I didn't ask anyone to nominate me cause people complained last year, but I was still nominated. I accepted being a nominee cause I figure people will be upset no matter what. if you think someone else deserves it more, make sure to nominate them next time/vote for them!"lily🌸 @LilyPichuLINKI didn't ask anyone to nominate me cause people complained last year, but I was still nominated. I accepted being a nominee cause I figure people will be upset no matter what. if you think someone else deserves it more, make sure to nominate them next time/vote for them!On November 18, 2025, the professional anime voice actor shared a screenshot of a message in which someone told her she is "not a part of" the fighting game community and is only "a tourist." Furthermore, the unnamed individual wrote that her nomination for The Streamer Awards 2025 was a "slap in the face to people" who had been part of the fighting game community for "decades":"You are not part of the FGC. You are a tourist, which is completely okay. But this nomination is a slap in the face to people who have been a part of the community for DECADES. You took their spot. It is very easy to understand why people are upset, if you think for one second."Responding to these sentiments, LilyPichu stated:"i love fighting games, and the fgc, but some of the gatekeeping is very unfriendly and discouraging. i've been told over and over again i'm not a real fighting game player because i was nominated for a for fun awards show. like, zoom out, what are we even doing lol fighting games are amazing and we should encourage others to play and get involved!! i want other people to find it just as exciting and fun as i do! not whatever this is.""We've all seen how hard you grind wanting to learn" - Big Bird comments on LilyPichu's response following Streamer Awards 2025 nominationProfessional fighting game player Adel "Big Bird" has commented on LilyPichu's response to criticisms for being nominated at The Streamer Awards 2025.The Red Bull Esports-affiliated personality said that the OfflineTV (OTV) member is a part of the fighting game community and that 'nobody has any type of say on who should and shouldn't be in FGC':"Don’t listen to them, you’re a part of the community and we’ve all seen how hard you grind wanting to learn Nobody has any type of say on who should be FGC and who shouldn’t be"Adel @Bigbird_fgcLINK@LilyPichu Don’t listen to them, you’re a part of the community and we’ve all seen how hard you grind wanting to learn Nobody has any type of say on who should be FGC and who shouldn’t beIn other Streamer Awards 2025 news, Adin Ross recently received backlash for the comments he made about Ironmouse and Connor "CDawgVA's" nomination for the Best Stream Duo category.