Vtubing community debate follows BurntPeanut’s VTuber of the Year win at the 2025 Streamer Awards

BurntPeanut’s Vtuber of the Year win at the 2025 Streamer Awards prompts divided reaction across vtubing community

The VTubing community has expressed mixed reactions after BurntPeanut, who has previously described himself as a non-VTuber, received the VTuber of the Year title at the 2025 Streamer Awards.

The ceremony hosted by QTCinderella again highlighted creators across streaming categories, with IShowSpeed winning Streamer of the Year.

However, the VTuber category attracted particular attention due to its diverse list of nominees, including Ironmouse, Mori Calliope, Kenji and chibidoki.

BurntPeanut, known for using an anthropomorphic peanut avatar rather than a traditionally styled VTuber model, completed the shortlist.

Fan voting played a decisive role. BurntPeanut’s rapidly expanding audience, the ‘Bungulators’, secured enough votes to place him ahead of the other nominees.

His victory followed his rise earlier in the year during the Arc Raiders storyline, but the result has divided opinion among VTubers and their communities.

Some creators questioned whether a self-described non-VTuber should qualify for the category. VTuber Maple Chicken commented on X that they were “disheartened” to see the award go to “someone who doesn’t even consider himself a part of the community,” adding that it “sucks to see your community and what you’re passionate about not even be taken seriously or get a seat at the table.”

Others defended the outcome. Mori Calliope congratulated BurntPeanut, while Ironmouse criticised the backlash, saying “Every VTuber in that category deserved to be there.”

Supporters on social platforms emphasised that the definition of a VTuber centres on virtual presentation, noting that BurntPeanut meets that criterion.

The discussion continues across the VTubing sphere as creators and fans reflect on how the category is defined and represented at future events.