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The name of Ibai Llanos (25) may not yet burst into the world of the traditional press.
However, his name constantly comes out of the mouths of
millennials
and
centennials
- also known as Generation Z-.
And it is that Llanos is a true idol when it comes to platforms like Twitch (where he has 4,700,0000 subscribers) and YouTube, where he has another 4,800,000 followers.
Likewise, according to Twitter, this man from Bilbao established himself as one of the most talked about personalities on the social network in 2020 ... But
what exactly does Llanos do to have more followers
than a reggaeton player on the internet?
This Wednesday, January 13, Ibai Llanos became a
trending topic,
after he published a video talking about criticism of Spanish Youtubers, who - instead of paying taxes in the country - are taxed elsewhere.
"I know that many of those who criticize those who go to Andorra, probably 90 or 95%, being in our situation, you would leave, because it is a country that is two hours away
and the difference in money is abysmal,
" he said in front to the camera, with brutal sincerity.
However, his honesty is not the reason why millions of people follow him, but his talent for video games and his exaggerated reactions when it comes to introducing products.
See this post on Instagram
Born in Deusto, Ibai Llanos Garatea began his adventure in the networks in 2014, when he entered the Liga de Videojuegos Profesional (an electronic sports competition in Spain).
A couple of months later, the young man narrated his first game of the popular League of Legends and in 2015 he became one of the great announcers of the North American professional league of the game.
A year later, Llanos began to take his career as a storyteller seriously and decided to move from the Basque Country to Barcelona
to work full time as a caster.
Basically a video game commentator, in youth slang.
In this way, over the last five years, Ibai has managed to make a big name for himself among
gamers
.
So it's no surprise that in February 2020, the esports team G2 Esports signed him up as a content creator.
But, with the evolution of the internet and that of his audience, Ibai soon chose to expand his interests and not focus solely on video games.
Thus, the
influencer
landed on Twitch and, since then, is one of the
public's favorite
streamers
.
And what specifically does a famous streamer do?
Well, broadcast live, talk about things
- literally, about anything -
and cash a big check for it.
See this post on Instagram
"People like me live by streaming, direct. We have small television channels on Twitch, each one very personal, where we broadcast what we want. I watch YouTube videos, chat ... They are like the television channels of 2020, we do many hours of live. I can get to do 40 or 50 a week, 200 a month. And I'm not talking about how long it takes to prepare it and such. You live that people like it and subscribe to your channel, "he commented Llanos to EL MUNDO, in July 2020, in addition to explaining why people of 15 or 17 years old are hooked on its content.
"It's because of Twitch, which, right now, is in a bubble.
People have been confined and have looked for things to entertain themselves," he said.
In fact, the lockdown turned out to be an extremely lucrative stage for the virtual celeb.
According to SavingSpot, Ibai Llanos is the third highest paid streamer in the world, earning between $ 1,200,000 and $ 1,400,000 on Twitch.
A figure fed by advertising on its channels and which currently
finances its expenses
.
Although Ibai does not worry about paying the rent: he lives in a large case in Barcelona - owned by G2 Esports - and his room is as big as a flat in the center of Barcelona.
Despite this, Ibai has insisted many times that he is not the richest man in Spain because he lives there and has even affirmed that he is not even a millionaire or famous ...
See this post on Instagram
"I try to be very close to people, tell them that I am not a famous person, that I stream, that we take a picture and that's it. You talk to me for two minutes and what was special about it has already been taken away from you, you will think that I'm normal, "he said in an interview last year.
Although, despite this,
his followers idolize him.
Above all, those who applauded his statement on Tuesday, on social networks, when he spoke about the salaries of youtubers and revealed that he does pay taxes in Spain.
"I live as a fucking mother and I do not care if they take half of me, because I continue to live to spare. If I have not gone to Andorra it has been because it has not come out of my balls and because what I am saying is true", he expressed forcefully.
Years before, Llanos had already talked about this issue.
What's more, this week an old tweet from the streamer has resurfaced, in which he assures that he thinks it is great that youtubers save money, but that he still wants to pay taxes in his nation.
"Paying taxes is not a bad thing.
It is a common good for the country and an act of responsibility. In the case of starting to earn a lot of money - it is not the case and perhaps it never will be - I will pay taxes here. Because I feel that my money contributes something beyond the individual good, "he wrote then ... Although it was not until this Wednesday that he received an avalanche of responses.
See this post on Instagram
"Ibai Llanos president," some wrote,
"in this country we need more examples like you,"
others wrote.
However, a fairly somewhat percentage also think Ibai is nothing more than an "asshole".
An opinion that could be based on its greatest controversy, a fairly recent controversy.
When he gave his last interview to EL MUNDO, seven months ago, the influencer mentioned that he had "six years without stopping, every day, without vacations," which led a tweeter to interpret that Ibai was suffering labor exploitation.
But Llanos, instead of taking the opinion of the stranger as something positive, chose to take it as something negative and "make fun" of the young woman in the networks.
"I love that Ibai
has
finally
realized that women exist and interacts with them
. A shame that it is to ridicule someone who cares about their working conditions," commented, later, a netizen on Twitter, implying that Llanos does not relate too much to the opposite sex.
Although the truth is that the streamer could have a relationship with some girls or, at least, with one.
In 2018, Ibai tweeted that she had an affair three years ago.
But, in 2020, he could have broken with the owner of his heart.
Because, in August, the Bilbao man presented a gamer chair as his "new girlfriend."
Yes, a chair.
Either way, it is more than certain that Ibai could easily find his better half.
In addition, he popularized a "song" in which he claimed that he would shake hands with anyone who called him fat.
Among 3,300,000 followers on Instagram it's hard not to find someone with whom to share your love for Twitch ...
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