Twitch streamer Hasan Piker said he has “dialled down” his commentary after facing public and Democratic backlash over controversial statements and his involvement in Democratic campaigns. Speaking with Jon Lovett, Piker said he sometimes weighs whether to express his views openly or present himself as a campaign surrogate, while arguing that his remarks are often taken out of context.

Piker attracted national attention after campaigning with Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who later sought to distance himself from him. Other Democrats, including DNC chair Ken Martin, condemned Piker’s comments, including remarks about Jewish Americans and Israel, while Piker maintained that criticism from Republicans would not prove electorally effective and questioned why he was held to a higher standard than the president.