Banned Kick streamer Johnny Somali is lashing out at the platform for unbanning Vitaly and Jack Doherty while he remains indefinitely suspended from the site.
In April 2024, Johnny Somali was permabanned on Kick after being arrested in Japan earlier in the year.
He wasn’t the only Kick streamer to be hit with a long ban from the platform. In 2025, Vitaly Zdorovetskiy was indefinitely suspended after being arrested in The Phillipines for allegedly antagonizing residents, stealing, making unwanted advances toward a security guard, and attempting to grab a weapon.
Jack Doherty was also banned for getting into a viral street brawl just weeks after serving a 3-month suspension for crashing his McLaren while looking at his phone after he got into
Unlike Somali, however, Vitaly was unbanned on January 20 after serving 290 days behind bars and being deported to Russia. At the same time, Kick also lifted Doherty’s ban and allowed him back on the platform.
Now, Somali is raging at Kick, accusing the Stake-owned company of favoritism.
Johnny Somali accuses Kick of “picking favorites” after unbanning Vitaly and Jack Doherty
In a post on X, the streamer, who has an ongoing trial in South Korea for several charges, pushed to have his ban lifted.
“Jack Doherty and Vitaly both unbanned from Kick… Unban Johnny Somali. It’s been 2 years.”
The American creator pleaded his case, claiming that he’s been reformed.
“I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I’m asking for a second chance. I’ve never assaulted anyone, stolen, or damaged property,” he urged. “I’ve been serving an indefinite ban since April 2024 over a joke labeled as hate speech, and people should be allowed to move on and prove they’ve changed.”
He further accused the site of deciding to unban certain people due to their relationship with creators.
“I think it is unfair to pick and choose favorites or those who have connections to the staff/ex-staff,” he added.
Somali was banned during a trip to Israel that, just like his prior trips, was full of controversy. At one point, he was arrested by police for harassing a female officer, but that wasn’t what resulted in the ban.
According to emails shared by the streamer, he was banned for hate speech due to comments he made. Videos shared by Somali show him making disparaging comments about Japanese people and other groups.
XThe streamer defended his remarks as being unserious. “Obviously, I was drunk and not serious at all, I would never say this sober,” he claimed.
Johnny Somali and Jack Doherty facing years in jail
Somali is currently on trial in South Korea and has already pleaded guilty to several charges, including multiple counts of obstructing business. His charges related to creating deepfakes of other streamers could land him in jail for several years.
While Somali’s trial is ongoing, fellow streamer Jack Doherty is also facing charges after being arrested in Florida for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and resisting arrest.
If he’s convicted on all counts and receives the maximum penalties, he could face up to 7 years in jail.
XJack Doherty and Vitaly have each gotten in trouble with the law.
Vitaly, meanwhile, is fresh off serving 290 days in jail, which he says included hell-like conditions such as temperatures nearing 100 degrees and cells filled with rats.
It’s not clear why Kick opted to allow Vitaly and Doherty back on the site while upholding Somali’s ban, and the platform hasn’t publicly commented on the decision.
