IShowSpeed is in an awkward position after an ad featuring his face aired during an NBA game without his team’s approval. The ad reportedly ran during the Sacramento Kings vs. San Antonio Spurs game on March 17, 2026, and viewers immediately knew something was up. The clip, which was first shared by X user @BalaPattySZN, featured the streamer in an ad with a QR code asking people to scan it. Many fans said they saw the same ad on TV and Twitch.Very soon, his cameraman and team member Slipz responded publicly. He made it clear that the team has nothing to do with it. They described the ad as “illegal” and said they were already looking into the issue. His response came directly on X on March 17, where he first thanked the user for sharing the clip and then addressed the growing number of questions from others online.
iShowSpeed team member Slipz calls alleged AI ad illegal because it creates confusion over NBA broadcasts
As the clip spread online, more users began asking if Darren Eyeshowspeed had given permission to use his likeness, especially since some creators have signed AI deals before. A user, @TheAnaIytics, asked if this could be a similar case. Slipz immediately shut it down. He replied bluntly, “No, this ad is illegal and will be addressed!” (Source: X).The situation became even more confusing when another user @feelspov said he saw the same ad while watching another stream. Responding to this, Slipz was surprised, saying, “LMAO yo how does a company make a mistake like that so publicly thank you for letting me know.” (Source: X).While this issue was growing, Darren IShowSpeed was live on YouTube a day earlier on March 16, 2026, and he was doing what he does best – interacting with fans. During the stream, he watched a video imagining different versions of himself from around the world. He joked in his conversation and asked funny “smash or pass” questions about those versions.At one point, he said, “What if IShowSpeed was born in other countries? Jamaican speed. Yo, Chat, y’all love Jamaican speed?” He continued to respond on various versions, including the Australian and Korean versions, while speaking directly to the audience.Later in the stream, he looked at an Indian version of himself and said, “Are you all destroying Indian momentum? Yes or no? I’m destroying Indian momentum.” He kept the mood playful, but also got a little serious when the chat comments crossed lines, and reminded viewers to be respectful.Ultimately, he said that he found the video “crazy” and that he had no idea how it was made. While their livestreams remained light and fun, the concurrent advertising issue has raised serious questions about the use of AI and content rights.