Celebrity
Gaming Icon Ninja’s Shocking Cancer Diagnosis at 32
Tyler ‘Ninja‘ Blevins is a streaming phenomenon and one of the biggest names in esports. The 32-year-old is the most followed streamer on Twitch,…
Tyler ‘Ninja‘ Blevins is a streaming phenomenon and one of the biggest names in esports. The 32-year-old is the most followed streamer on Twitch, his primary platform, but now multi-streams across various sites after ending his exclusivity deal.
However, he recently disclosed a devastating piece of news – he has been diagnosed with cancer. The gaming icon, known for his incredible skills in battle royale titles, is now facing a different battle.
In this article, we delve into his cancer diagnosis and how he is coping with this challenging situation.
Ninja revealed his cancer diagnosis through a tweet
Blevins sent shockwaves through the streaming community and his massive fanbase on March 26th with a devastating revelation – he has been diagnosed with melanoma, a severe form of skin cancer.
He took to his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), to share the news, admitting that he had known about the diagnosis for some time.
The journey to this diagnosis began during a routine checkup with his dermatologist, where a mole on the bottom of his foot raised concerns.
Alright I’m still in a bit of shock but want to keep you all updated. A few weeks ago I went in to a dermatologist for an annual skin/mole check that Jess proactively scheduled for me. There was a mole on the bottom of my foot that they wanted to remove just to be careful. It…
— Ninja (@Ninja)
The mole was promptly removed and sent for testing, which ultimately confirmed the presence of melanoma. His wife, Jessica Blevins, had proactively scheduled this dermatologist appointment.
In his social media post, he expressed his shock, “A few weeks ago, I went in for an annual skin/mole check that Jess proactively scheduled for me. There was a mole on the bottom of my foot that they wanted to remove just to be careful.”
“It came back as melanoma, but they are optimistic that we caught it in the early stages.”
However, the ordeal didn’t end there. The doctors discovered another dark spot adjacent to the initial mole, prompting a biopsy in the hopes of confirming that the cancer had been entirely removed. Further testing is now required to determine if the area is indeed noncancerous.
Ninja urged his fans to get regular checkups
In the wake of his shocking melanoma revelation, Belvins didn’t just share his battle; he also took the opportunity to raise awareness and encourage his massive fanbase to prioritize their health.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, he turned his diagnosis into a public service announcement (PSA) for regular skin checkups.
Ninja at the 2022 SXSW Conference (Source: NBC)
In his social media post, he urged his followers, saying, “Please take this as a PSA to get skin checkups.” He recognized that while his melanoma was caught in the early stages, skin cancer can often go unnoticed for years, silently progressing on a patient’s body.
By sharing his personal experience, he aimed to raise awareness about the seriousness of melanoma and the importance of regular screenings.
His call to action resonated deeply with his fanbase. Many of his younger followers admitted to just learning about melanoma through his announcement, prompting them to research the condition and vow to get themselves checked as soon as possible.
Ninja has been receiving an outpour of support
As the news of Belvins’ cancer diagnosis spread, the gaming and streaming worlds rallied around him, offering messages of love, encouragement, and well-wishes.
Numerous fellow content creators took to social media to express their support and admiration for his courage in sharing his battle.
Praying for you brother ??
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII)
Among those offering support was popular Twitch streamer DansGaming, who commended Belvins for catching the melanoma early, stating, “Glad you caught it early. This very procedure would have saved my mom’s life if they caught it early enough.”
Fortnite star SypherPK also chimed in, sending positive vibes to Belvins and his wife Jessica, who proactively scheduled the dermatologist appointment. SypherPK’s message read, “Hoping for the best. Lots of love to Jess for being proactive as well.”
Hoping for the best. Lots of love to Jess for being proactive as well. ❤️?
— SypherPK (@SypherPK)
Jake’n’Bake, another Twitch streamer, thanked him for raising awareness, stating, “Thanks for keeping people aware! And hopes everything was able to be removed without further issues.”
Beyond these messages, a wave of support flooded in from numerous other content creators, including Nick Eh 30, BrookeAB, CouRage, Wipz, and Belvins’ brother, BeardedBlevins.
Many expressed their love and well-wishes, highlighting the strong bond within the gaming community and the reverence they hold for him.
Ninja continues to stream even after the diagnosis
Belvins or Ninja, the gaming icon and the most followed streamer on Twitch, has not let his cancer battle slow him down.
After ending his exclusivity deal with the Amazon-owned platform, he has embraced multi-streaming, reaching millions of followers across various platforms.
Even in the face of such a life-altering diagnosis, he has shown no outward signs of letting it affect his streaming presence or his infectious energy.
He has continued to stream regularly, entertaining his loyal fanbase with his trademark gaming prowess and engaging personality.
Just days after revealing his melanoma diagnosis, Ninja took to his Instagram page, which boasts an impressive 12.4 million followers, to share a series of clips that captured him in high spirits.
The videos showcased him laughing and enjoying himself while playing Fortnite’s ever-popular battle royale game.
While the road ahead may be filled with challenges and uncertainties, Ninja’s decision to continue streaming despite his diagnosis sends a powerful message to his followers.
It demonstrates his determination to maintain a sense of normalcy and positivity, refusing to let the circumstances define him or deter him from pursuing his passion.
Ninja’s streaming career
Blevins began his professional gaming career in 2009, playing Halo 3 for organizations like Cloud9, Renegades, Team Liquid, and Luminosity Gaming.
His streaming journey started in 2011, initially playing games like H1Z1 and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). However, his popularity skyrocketed when he began streaming the newly released Fortnite Battle Royale in late 2017.
His viewership grew exponentially, coinciding with the game’s meteoric rise in popularity, reaching over 2 million followers on Twitch by March 2018. His concurrent viewership records on Twitch were repeatedly broken as he gained more fame.
In March 2018, he became the first streamer to surpass 3 million followers on the platform. He set the record for the largest concurrent audience on an individual stream (outside of tournaments) with 635,000 viewers while playing Fortnite.
Ninja is a popular gaming streamer (Source: People)
In August 2019, he left Twitch to stream exclusively on Microsoft’s Mixer platform, citing limitations on his ability to grow his brand outside of video gaming on Twitch and issues with the platform’s community.
However, after Mixer’s shutdown in July 2020, he was released from his exclusivity deal.
In September 2020, he returned to streaming on Twitch after signing a multi-year exclusive agreement with the platform.
However, in September 2022, he announced a “Time Out” from streaming, hinting at taking a break.
A week later, he announced his return, stating that he would simulcast his content across multiple platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, embracing a multi-platform approach.